Wolves' Donte DiVincenzo Facing Backlash After Game 2 Benching

DiVincenzo was benched after three quarters, failing to see the floor in the fourth quarter of a 118-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He shot 3 of 8 overall, 2-for-6 from three-point range, for eight points but turned the ball over four times and notched a -27 plus-minus.

DiVincenzo was called out, along with Julius Randle, who also didn't log any fourth-quarter minutes in Game 2.

“What happened to the dude with these banger performances last year for the Knicks in the postseason,” Kevin O'Connor said on his podcast on Friday, May 23.

“It’s not a good sign … when the two guys you got back in that trade are benched in the fourth quarter of Game 2,” co-host Tom Haberstroh added, referring to DiVincenzo and Randle.

“[Head coach] Chris Finch lost all faith in those guys in Game 2, and I can understand why.”

While DiVincenzo's struggles against the Thunder are evident, they are more exacerbated issues that have plagued him in the postseason.

DiVincenzo, who has a -58 plus-minus in 12 postseason games, is the team's most troubling performer. The next worst plus-minus in the lineup is Nickeil Alexander-Walker at -19. 

Playing 25.8 minutes per game, DiVincenzo has shot 35-for-109 overall (32.1%) and 19-for-74 on 3-pointers in the postseason -- a 25.7% clip that pales in comparison to his 39.7% regular-season rate.

And while DiVincenzo has struggled shooting, his defense and decision-making with the ball in his hand haven't made up for it either.

Facing a 0-2 deficit in the series, the Wolves will have to respond with two wins at home to give themselves a chance to advance to the franchise's first NBA Finals.

Whether DiVincenzo continues to play a large role in the rotation or the Timberwolves infuse younger talents like Jaylen Clark or Terrence Shannon Jr. remains to be seen.