Miles McBride played the entire fourth quarter in his breakout postseason performance Saturday, but someone had to be relegated to the bench.
That person was starting guard Donte DiVincenzo, who had a quiet performance in the Game 1 win over the 76ers.
He finished his first playoff game as a Knick with eight points on 3-of-10 shooting and a minus-23 rating in 24 minutes, but was scoreless in the fourth quarter.
“That’s who we are, that’s the team. So some nights, it’s somebody else’s night and not yours,” Tom Thibodeau said after Sunday’s practice. “Everybody’s making sacrifices, but Donte, he’s been great. He’s been great. He’s had a great year for us and we need him.
“So whatever gives us the best chance to win, that’s what we’re doing.”
After being traded to Toronto for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley on December 30, DiVincenzo averaged 34.4 minutes and 19.2 points per game in his final 50 starts.
Those numbers are even higher in 35 games since Julius Randle and OG Anunoby were injured in late January, at 38.2 minutes and 21.0 points.
McBride came off the bench for 21 points in 28 minutes, earning a plus-37 rating and going 5-of-7 from 3-point land.
Bojan Bogdanovic also continued to contribute in a reserve role, posting 13 points, seven rebounds, and a plus-27 rating in 25 minutes in Game 1.
“I have enough experience that I have to wait for that moment, but I don’t know when it’s going to come,” said the 10-year NBA veteran, who has reached 47 postseason appearances in his career. said Bogdanovic, who has played twice.
“I had a really good time with the bogey,” Thibodeau said. “I think experience is important, and you learn from it.”
Thibodeau’s rotation shortening saw Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby return from injury this month, and Precious Achiuwa, who had already seen his minutes reduced, did not play Saturday.
“It’s going to be a tough rotation because it’s the playoffs, but we need everyone. We know that can change at any time,” Thibodeau said.
