Donte DiVincenzo’s Knicks are struggling to advance. 76ers

On May 2, 2024By Vaseline

N.B.A

By means of Peter Botte

Published
May 2, 2024, 7:38 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA – Donte DiVincenzo scored the Knicks’ biggest shot in the first five games against the 76ers, but the sharpshooter mostly couldn’t escape the rest of the first round, save for the go-ahead goal in the final seconds. of game 2.

DiVincenzo buried five of 10 shots and four 3-pointers in that comeback win last week, but otherwise had posted a .289 shooting percentage from the floor — including a puzzling .227 from 3-point land — in the other four games heading into the game started. 6 on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center.

Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the New York Knicks hits the ball to Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of game 3. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

After averaging 38.2 minutes and recording 21 points and 4.6 made 3-pointers per game over his last 35 appearances of the regular season, the 27-year-old DiVincenzo’s playing time and production in the playoffs dropped to 28.6 minutes, 9.8 points and 1.8 minutes. treys by the Knicks 3-2 start against the Sixers.

In his first season in New York after signing a four-year deal as a free agent, the former Villanova player set a franchise record with 283 made 3s in the regular season.

But prior to Thursday’s game, DiVincenzo had missed 14 of 17 from long range since his go-ahead triple with 13.0 seconds left lifted the Knicks to a Game 2 victory.

Follow The Post’s coverage of the NBA playoff series Knicks vs. 76ers

“Just keep trusting your shot,” Tom Thibodeau said after Game 4 when asked about DiVincenzo’s shooting slump. “He puts in the work every day. So (if you’re) open, shoot. Guarded, make a play.”

Still, backup combo guard Mile McBride logged more minutes twice in the first five games, with a 21-point, 28-minute performance in Game 1 and 14 points in 33 minutes in the Knicks’ OT loss Tuesday night.

New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) goes up for a shot at Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) and loses the ball — DiVincenzo goes for a shot over Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. and loses the ball. Robert Sabo

“We know we should have ended it (Tuesday), but we have to move on, stick together, regroup and just look forward,” McBride said. “It was obviously a tough one, but we have a great group of leaders, from the coaching staff to the locker room leaders, who I think will regroup us and get back to the drawing board.”