The Golden State Warriors eked out a much needed win against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, but Stephen Curry shouldn’t be expected to continually mask the team’s deep-running troubles. Fortunately, the Warriors are set for a major boost as backup guard Donte DiVincenzo nears a return from a hamstring injury.
After signing a two-year, $9 million contract (second year player option) with Golden State during the offseason, DiVincenzo was pencilled in as a crucial piece to the Warriors bench unit. That appeared the case before the hamstring issue halted his season in the team’s third game on October 23.
The Golden State Warriors could regain guard Donte DiVincenzo as early as Friday’s much anticipated battle against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Athletics’ Anthony Slater reported that the 25-year-old is amping up towards a return, having now been sidelined for nearly three weeks.
Donte DiVincenzo out pregame going through his normal shooting routine. Won’t play tonight vs Kings but Warriors sound hopeful he could return Friday against Cavaliers.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 8, 2022
DiVincenzo’s body hasn’t been kind to him since missing the entirety of Milwaukee’s championship-winning 2021 postseason campaign. It’s an aspect the Warriors will have to manage as the season progresses, although their 4-7 record suggests they may not have the same luxury as they did with Otto Porter Jr. last season.
However, the stability DiVincenzo can provide when he’s on the floor will be a major boost to Golden State’s league-worst bench. The group is a combined -7.9 in plus-minus, 2.5 points worse than the 29th ranked Detroit Pistons.
In DiVincenzo’s absence, Steve Kerr has turned to a two-way player, Ty Jerome, for combo-guard production. While the fourth-year man has shown some solid signs, the Warriors were also a -22 in his 11 and a half minutes against the Kings.
It’s more DiVincenzo’s defense that Golden State will be desperate to regain. He was signed in free agency as a replacement for Gary Payton II, and while he doesn’t provide that level of perimeter defense, his competitiveness should prove a stark contrast to the guard-of-honour like defense the Warriors are giving to opposition ball handlers at present.
Golden State host the Cavaliers at Chase Center on Friday, followed by a trip to Sacramento on Sunday to face the Kings for a third time this season.