New York Knicks’ Acquisition DiVincenzo Lights Up from Downtown with Nine Threes in Victory

DiVincenzo, the lone offseason acquisition for the New York Knicks, showcased his impressive shooting skills by sinking nine three-pointers on 15 attempts in Tuesday’s 118-103 victory against the Utah Jazz. This remarkable performance came just one triple shy of tying the Knicks franchise record of 10 threes set by J.R. Smith in April 2024.

During the summer, DiVincenzo devoted countless hours to honing his craft, although he admitted to losing track of the actual number of shots he took or the time spent in the gym. The result of his hard work and dedication is evident on the stat sheet.

DiVincenzo’s shooting prowess has been on full display throughout the month of January. This game marked his 11th with at least three made threes, and his fourth with five or more. In the season so far, he is shooting an impressive 42.6% from beyond the arc, ranking third among players who take at least six threes per game and have played in at least half of their team’s games.

His shooting percentages are equally impressive from different areas of the court. DiVincenzo is shooting 46.7% from the left corner, 58.7% from the right corner, and 38.8% on above-the-break threes.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau commended DiVincenzo’s commitment to improving his shooting, highlighting how he consistently put in extra work even before the season began. Thibodeau also emphasized DiVincenzo’s confidence and quick decision-making, which opens up the floor for his teammates.

DiVincenzo’s former teammate at Villanova, Brunson, recognized and praised his ongoing improvement, attributing it to his strong work ethic. This growth has culminated in DiVincenzo’s current standout performance as a key scoring presence for the short-handed Knicks.

Unfortunately, the Knicks will have to navigate their upcoming games without their star player Julius Randle, who is sidelined with a dislocated right shoulder, and Obi Toppin, who is day-to-day due to right elbow inflammation. However, DiVincenzo’s recent performances give the team hope as he continues to step up in the absence of these offensive powerhouses.

DiVincenzo expressed his approach to filling the void left by his injured teammates, stating that he focuses on catching and shooting open shots while playing collectively with his teammates. In the two games where he has been given an increased offensive role, DiVincenzo has averaged an impressive 31.5 points per game.