Former Golden State Warriors’ guard benched in late-game playoff meltdown

Even though the Golden State Warriors did not go past the first round of the playoffs, many of their former teammates are still hoping to win a championship.

One of those is Donte DiVincenzo, who last week helped the New York Knicks defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2, setting the playoffs ablaze with an incredible game-winner. However, by Tuesday’s Game 5 showdown, the 27-year-old’s situation had drastically changed.

Donte DiVincenzo, a former guard for the Golden State Warriors, was benched during Tuesday’s late-game collapse by the New York Knicks.
After his heroics in Game 2, DiVincenzo’s output has decreased. In the two games played in Philadelphia, he combined for just 13 points on 5-of-18 shooting from the field, including 2 of 10 from three-point range.

Once again, DiVincenzo struggled as the Knicks attempted to finish the series on their home court, managing just nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and one-of-7 from three-point range. As a result, New York head coach Tom Thibodeau benched DiVincenzo for the final minutes of the tense game, favoring third-year guard Miles McBride.

With fewer than 30 seconds left, McBride’s jump shot put the Knicks up six points, and it seemed like the proper option. However, the hosts immediately let up a four-point play to Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers after calling a timeout.

Maxey shocked the MSG crowd and forced overtime with a deep three after Josh Hart missed his first two free throw attempts. Then, in overtime, Philadelphia completed their comeback win with a 15-4 run to end the game, despite giving up the first five points.

Just two games after Joel Embiid scored 50 points earlier in the series, Maxey finished with 46 points on 17 of 30 shots. The two have recorded 45+ point games in the same postseason, making them just the third and first teammates in NBA history to do it since the Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant in 2019.