When the Minnesota Timberwolves completed the gentleman's sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, praise inevitably centered around the stars. It was fair play, as Rudy Gobert dominated Game 7, Julius Randle locked LeBron James down, and Anthony Edwards made the leap as a playmaker.
One of the quiet storylines to emerge from the first round centered around a crucial player whose name has been mentioned far less frequently: Donte DiVincenzo.
DiVincenzo experienced a challenging 2024-25 season, marred by a slow start. He shot 35.3 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from beyond the arc through his first 25 appearances, thus resulting in a widespread narrative that he wasn't an ideal fit in Minnesota.
DiVincenzo quietly righted the ship, however, overcoming injuries to average 13.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.3 three-point field goals made on .458/.442/.787 shooting across his final 37 regular-season games.
Unfortunately, DiVincenzo's shooting woes returned during the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He buried just 30.0 percent of his field goals and 19.4 percent of his three-point attempts, thus painting the picture that his fit was uncertain once more.
Thankfully, DiVincenzo delivered in an area that almost offset his individual shortcomings: Defending the three-point shot.
Donte DiVincenzo's elite 3PT defense crucial to Timberwolves' success
There's no way around the fact that DiVincenzo needs to shoot better than 19.4 percent from beyond the arc. No matter the matchup, Minnesota will need him to space the floor and provide the stars with room to operate.
More importantly, the Timberwolves will need the DiVincenzo who can create his own offense in key situations to alleviate pressure from Edwards.
For as true as that may be, not enough is being said about the value he's provided on defense. During the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, DiVincenzo was invaluable as a perimeter defender, forcing Los Angeles into miss after miss from distance.
Across the five-game series, Los Angeles shot just 3-of-15 on three-point field goals when DiVincenzo was the primary defender—a mark that translates to 20.0 percent.
DiVincenzo forced Dorian Finney-Smith, one of the Lakers' top catch-and-shoot players, to go 0-of-4 from beyond the arc. He also held Austin Reaves to 0-of-3 shooting from distance, operating successfully in isolation defense along the way.
Whether he was defending on or away from the ball, DiVincenzo was determined and produced remarkable results.
In the second round, DiVincenzo's ability to prevent the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets' shooters from consistently knocking down threes will be pivotal. Golden State ranked in the top 10 in three-point field goals made this season, while Houston has proven capable of going on impressive hot streaks.
Thankfully, DiVincenzo has already been successful in the postseason—and should remember how to knock down shots sooner than later.