The Timberwolves were dealt a crushing blow to their playoff hopes Saturday, when Donte DiVincenzo tore his right Achilles during their 112-96 Game 4 win against the Nuggets in Minneapolis, according to multiple reports.
Just over a minute into the opening quarter, DiVincenzo planted his foot into the ground after attempting a 3-pointer — trying to race toward the left corner to grab the offensive rebound — before crumpling to the ground.
DiVincenzo remained on the court in pain, and he eventually exited with help on both sides.
With the injury, DiVincenzo will be forced to miss the remainder of Minnesota’s playoff run, and his recovery — often lengthy for a torn Achilles — will extend into next season.
“Completely devastating for Donte,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said. “He was playing so well. He’s had such a great season. He’s the heart and soul of so many things that we do. You could just see the look in his eye when it happened and you kinda knew. We’ll love him, and we’ll be there for him.”
DiVincenzo, who set the Knicks’ single-season 3-point record during his lone season with the team in 2023-24, was dealt to the Timberwolves ahead of last season in the Karl-Anthony Towns deal and has become a regular piece of the Minnesota starting lineup.
He averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists during the regular season, and through the opening three games of the Timberwolves’ first-round series, those numbers had climbed to 14.3, 5.0 and 5.0, respectively — and DiVincenzo also hit 50 percent of his shots from beyond the arc during those postseason games, too.
Minnesota also lost superstar Anthony Edwards to a left knee injury in the second quarter after attempting to block a shot, forcing the Timberwolves to finish their 112-96 win without two of their starters.
He’ll undergo tests, according to ESPN.
Ayo Dosunmu erupted for a career-best 43 points for Minnesota, powering them to a 3-1 series with a chance to close it out in Denver in Game 5.
For that game, though, and for the rest of their season, they’ll have to operate without DiVincenzo’s presence — and maybe without Edwards, too.
