The Knicks starters dominated their limited minutes and Donte DiVincenzo finally got going.
After a rough start to his Knicks debut, DiVincenzo, the $50 million summer acquisition, finished on a positive note in Monday’s 114-107 preseason victory over the Celtics.
His two assists and two 3-pointers in the third quarter capped a 23-minute appearance, salvaging a semi-respectable stat line with eight points on 2 of 8 shooting.
Before that, the backup guard was a mess.
“The first segment was a little bumpy,” coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged. “New guys playing together. Then they got a rhythm going. They seemed to get on track there.”
DiVincenzo missed his first six attempts, including a trey that barely grazed the rim.
He also struggled to finish in the paint, an issue throughout his NBA career.
But the backup guard finally broke the seal with a free throw midway through the third quarter.
He then nailed consecutive treys and watched the fourth quarter from the bench.
“I wouldn’t say it was jitters. Like I said, just getting comfortable,” DiVincenzo said. “I think it’s just you’re learning a new system, learning 14 new guys, a new coach and a new environment. Just getting acclimated, getting comfortable. I’m not worried about it.
“It’s always good to see the ball go in.”
The Celtics, as expected, sat everybody.
Their top players and attractions — Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford — were all inactive Monday at MSG.
It was a consequence of the Celtics playing in the second game of a back-to-back, with Joe Mazzulla’s squad flying to New York from Boston after toppling the Sixers on Sunday night.
The Knicks, meanwhile, used their regular starting lineup — Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson — while resting Josh Hart.
They manhandled Boston’s skeleton crew while building a 20-11 lead in six minutes.
Brunson (10 points in six minutes), Barrett (12 points, 9-for-9 from the foul line in 16 minutes) and Randle (11 points, four rebounds in 13 minutes) all sat the entire second half.
“It was just get your feet wet, get started,” Thibodeau said about Brunson’s cameo. “Same thing with Julius. I thought he looked good after being out and just the way he moved.”
Maybe he can “still f–-king play.” At least when it’s against the opposition’s third unit.
After vocalizing his discontent over a nonexistent role and declaring recently “I can f–king play,” Evan Fournier was an early sub off the bench Monday and, like DiVincenzo, found a rhythm in the second half.
The Frenchman finished with 11 points — including eight after halftime — and played most of the fourth quarter with a lineup featuring Miles McBride, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jacob Toppin and DaQuan Jeffries.
Still, Thibodeau didn’t exactly jump at the opportunity to praise Fournier’s performance.
“It’s not about the individual. It’s about the team,” the coach said. “So that’s the way we work here.”
