Miles McBride played the entire fourth quarter Saturday in a breakout postseason performance, which means someone had to be relegated to the bench for those minutes.
That someone was starting guard Donte DiVincenzo, who had a quiet showing in the Game 1 victory against the 76ers.
He finished his first playoff game as a Knick with eight points on 3-for-10 shooting and a minus-23 rating in 24 minutes — none in the fourth quarter.
“That’s who we are, we’re a team. So some nights it’s not your night, it’s someone else’s night,” Tom Thibodeau said after Sunday’s practice. “Everyone sacrifices, and Donte, he’s great. He’s terrific. He’s had a great year for us, and we need him.
“So whatever is gonna give us our best chance to win, that’s what we’re doing.”
DiVincenzo had averaged 34.4 minutes and 19.2 points per game over his final 50 starts after the trade of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto on Dec. 30.
Those numbers were even higher — 38.2 minutes and 21.0 points — in 35 appearances after Julius Randle and OG Anunoby were injured in late January.
McBride finished with 21 points and a plus-37 rating in 28 minutes off the bench, while connecting on 5 of 7 from 3-point land.
Bojan Bogdanovic also has continued to contribute in a reserve role with 13 points, seven rebounds and a plus-27 in 25 minutes in Game 1.
“I’m experienced enough to know that you have to wait for your moment, and you never know when it’s gonna come,” said Bogdanovic, a 10-year NBA veteran who had made 47 previous postseason appearances in his career.
“Bogey gave us really good minutes,” Thibodeau said. “I think experience is important, and you learn from that.”
Thibodeau’s shortened rotation excluded Precious Achiuwa, who did not play Saturday after his minutes had already decreased upon the returns from injuries this month of Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby.
“It’s the playoffs, and rotations get tight, but you need everyone, you know it can change at any moment,” Thibodeau said.