Dub Hub: Donte DiVincenzo thrives in Warriors’ closing lineup

Rounding up all the Warriors and NBA news from around the web. 

Good Morning Dub Nation,

The Golden State Warriors came up with one of their most important wins of the season on Saturday after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, 125-116. The thrilling overtime victory came after a sensational fourth quarter from Warriors point guard Stephen Curry. Despite a slow start, Curry heated up when the Dubs needed him most, finishing the game by scoring 20 of his 36 points in the final minutes. However, it was this game-saving defensive play that may have been his most important play of the night.

One key element to the Warriors’ victory was the presence of Donte DiVincenzo in the closing lineup. Jordan Poole is the usual choice to close out games, especially whenever the team finds themselves attempting to overcome a big deficit and his offense is needed. However, on Saturday, Kerr went with DiVincenzo as his blend of shooting, defense, and overall basketball IQ fits well with the other starters, giving Golden State the perfect balance to close out games. In his latest article, Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area outlined DiVincenzo’s impact on Saturday’s game.

Via NBC Sports Bay Area:

Along with his 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals to help him be a plus-17 in plus/minus rating, he scored 20 points for the fourth time this season and tied a career-high of six made 3-pointers.

That also is what allows him to thrive with Saturday’s starting and closing lineup, as well as a handful of other groups. Coming into the season, DiVincenzo’s career high in 3-point percentage was 37.9 in the 2020-21 season with Milwaukee. After sinking six more triples in what felt like the Warriors’ latest must-win game, DiVincenzo now is shooting 40.8 percent from 3-point range.

How impressive is that? He’s behind Curry (only the greatest shooter of all time), but now a tick ahead of Klay Thompson with his 3-point percentage this season.

After the weekend, the Warriors’ record of 35-33 gives them the sixth seed with a one-game lead over the next closest play-in team. With 14 games remaining on their schedule, Golden State can realistically get to as high as the fourth seed in which they trail the Phoenix Suns by 2.5 games, thus making Monday’s game against them that much more significant.

Here are the rest of today’s stories:

In case you missed it from Golden State of Mind:

• Solving the Puzzle: How Steph Curry was able to win the battle against Jrue Holiday
• Steph Curry erupts late, helps Warriors defeat Bucks in overtime
• Steph Curry is one of the 30 highest-paid athletes of all-time
• Dillon Brooks shreds Draymond Green with postgame comments
• Jonathan Kuminga injures ankle during pregame vs. Grizzlies

Other Warriors News:

• Thompson: The Stephen Curry magic show gives the Warriors a jolt of hope (The Athletic)
• Warriors uncertain if Andrew Wiggins will play again this season due to personal matter (CBS Sports)
• Donte DiVincenzo closing for Warriors is about more than defense (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Draymond Green vows to keep playing after ankle roll in Warriors-Bucks (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Steph Curry gifts ball boy game-worn Warriors jersey for tunnel shot bonk (NBC Sports Bay Area)

NBA News:

• How will NBA’s wild Western Conference play out? What to make of KD’s Suns, Kyrie-Luka and more (The Athletic)
• The Best NBA Players, According To RAPTOR (FiveThirtyEight)
• Story behind Kings fans’ viral prophecy: ‘We’re getting 40 wins this year!’ (NBC Sports)
• Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard misses only 2nd game of season (ESPN)
• Kia MVP Ladder: It’s a 3-man chase as season’s final weeks begin (NBA)