Donte DiVincenzo shines in perfect debut with Timberwolves

No Anthony Edwards? No Julius Randle? No problem for the Timberwolves in the preseason opener against the Lakers, as Donte DiVincenzo was literally perfect.

DiVincenzo arrived in Minnesota earlier this week after the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for DiVincenzo, Julius Randle and Keita Bates-Diop. He was introduced to the Minnesota media on Thursday and just over 24 hours later he was in Palm Springs on Friday night and in the starting lineup.

DiVincenzo came out firing, scoring 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting. He knocked down all three of his three-point shots and scored with an athletic reverse layup through traffic – all in just 9 minutes and 54 seconds of playing time.

DiVincenzo was in the starting lineup, along with Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert. None of them played after the first quarter. DiVincenzo’s role with the Wolves is not yet clear, but he is expected to come off the bench behind Anthony Edwards, who along with Randle had the evening off in California.

The game was still in full swing when this story was published, but rest assured, Minnesota’s top players looked very good. Reid and Conley each scored five points and each nailed a 3. Nickeil Alexander-Walker came off the bench and had five points. Jaden McDaniels blocked a shot at the rim and Rudy Gobert switched shots in his 10 minutes of play.

The rookies, Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr., also looked solid. Dillingham buried a floater within seconds of entering the game and Shannon was fearless with the ball in his hands, reaching the free throw line multiple times.

Josh Minott buried a corner 3, had a dunk and had 10 points and five rebounds early in the third quarter and Luka Garza was already at 13 points and six rebounds at the same point.