Anthony Edwards dishes out unfiltered reaction to playing with Donte DiVincenzo - "F**kin' incredible"
Minnesota Timberwolves rising superstar wing Anthony Edwards was the biggest standout during Sunday's road preseason showdown against the New York Knicks. However, his new teammate Donte DiVincenzo also turned heads against his former squad, receiving Edwards' postgame endorsement.
Edwards finished with a game-high 31 points and eight 3-pointers, shooting 57.9%. Meanwhile, DiVincenzo added 15 points, seven assists and two 3s, shooting 54.5%, forming a potent starting backcourt duo with the two-time All-Star.
Minnesota ultimately fell 115-110 at Madison Square Garden, with both teams' reserves leading the way down the stretch of the relatively meaningless exhibition clash. Nevertheless, Edwards and DiVincenzo provided Timberwolves fans with an exciting preview of their first season as teammates.
DiVincenzo was acquired from New York in the three-team blockbuster trade that sent star center Karl-Anthony Towns to the Big Apple earlier this month. He is expected to provide Minnesota with elite outside shooting, toughness and complementary playmaking.
Over 81 games last season, DiVincenzo finished third in the NBA in total 3-pointers (283), averaging a career-best 15.5 points per game.
According to Edwards, playing alongside DiVincenzo has made his job noticeably easier thus far.
"F**kin' incredible," Edwards said postgame. "I don't need the ball. You see it. I'm having fun, man. It's fun to play with Donte."
Donte DiVincenzo is projected to serve as Minnesota's sixth or seventh man once the team returns to full strength. Regardless, he appears to be building chemistry with Anthony Edwards, which should boost his chances of earning significant minutes and closing games this season.
Also Read: "Baby Jordan has arrived" - NBA fans hyped over Anthony Edwards' impressive 31-pt preseason outing for Timberwolves
Donte DiVincenzo calls joining Anthony Edwards and Timberwolves an "easy transition"
Ahead of Sunday's preseason matchup against his former team, Donte DiVincenzo noted that he didn't want to leave New York after enjoying a career year. However, he added that he has experienced a seamless transition to the Anthony Edwards-led Timberwolves.
"Initially, you never want to get traded. So, I was kind of upset, I was kind of hurt ... and my mind went right to [the Timberwolves]," DiVincenzo told the New York Post. "… It was an easy transition. There were no angry feelings, no mad feelings, nothing like that."
Fortunately for DiVincenzo, he was traded from one projected NBA title contender to another. Minnesota finished third in the Western Conference (56-26) last season, securing its first conference finals appearance in 20 years. So, he will have an opportunity to help the franchise take the next step and secure its first-ever NBA Finals berth.
In Photos: Former teammates Karl-Anthony Towns & Anthony Edwards reunite during Timberwolves vs Knicks game at MSG