More tough news coming out of the Minnesota Timberwolves camp today, learning that guard Donte DiVincenzo tore his right Achilles tendon in the first half of Minnesota’s game four win vs the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. DiVincenzo also suffered this injury in the first minute of playing time he recorded in the game, trying to cut, and tearing the tendon in a non-contact manner. This is a terrible blow to the Timberwolves who later lost star guard Anthony Edwards to two a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee, while also dealing with “runners knee” in his other knee, something Edwards has been managing the entire series.
While Edwards will miss the rest of this series, and if Minnesota advances, Edwards will not be missing nearly as much time as DiVincenzo who per ESPN’s Shams Charania says will have a lengthy recovery. The average time to recover from a torn Achilles tendon is around four to six months but as fans have seen in last year’s playoffs with Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton also suffering a similar injury, the timetable for this specific injury is not always fluid.
DiVincenzo through four playoff games averaged 10.8 points on 50% shooting and a remarkable 47.8% shooting from three. The Villanova alum is out for the remainder of the season and it would not be surprising to see him miss some time at the beginning of next season, but only time will tell. Minnesota is on the brink of eliminating the Denver Nuggets, up 3-1 in a series that not many picked them to win, but now the task of closing out the third best team in the West is now much more difficult without your two best offensive players.
