Saturday night’s Game 3 matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves included a devastating injury to Donte DiVincenzo in the opening quarter.
Before the game even concluded, DiVincenzo was diagnosed with a torn Achilles. It’s an injury that ended the postseason of several players last year, including Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.
Following Tatum’s Game 4 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, he revealed that he saw the DiVincenzo injury in real-time. It was a tough scene for Tatum, who experienced that kind of scenario firsthand during the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
“I was watching the game yesterday and it was tough seeing that. I never want anybody to go through that injury and just what’s to come and the rehab process,” Tatum told reporters in Philadelphia.
Jayson Tatum Sends A Hearfelt Message To DiVincenzo
Although Tatum and DiVincenzo never played together, NBA players tend to be extremely supportive to those who go through the same challenges.
Tatum formed a bond with Portland’s Damian Lillard and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton after they all suffered the same injury last postseason.
Now, Tatum wants to help DiVincenzo through his battle back.
“My thoughts and prayers have been with him,” Tatum added.
“Hopefully, [the surgery] went successfully. I have no doubt about that. You never want to see anybody injured—especially that one—I was definitely like sick to my stomach yesterday seeing him go down. I know exactly how he’s feeling, I know exactly what he has to go through. I’m going to be a resource. He has me in his corner, whether he’s going to like it or not. So I’ll definitely reach out to him soon.”
Unlike Lillard and Haliburton, Tatum did all he could to make sure he returned to the court for the 2025-2026 NBA season.
Tatum was back for the Celtics in early March. He finished the season with 16 games played and is back in the full swing for the NBA Playoffs. It wasn’t an easy road, but Tatum is still an All-Star-caliber player for Boston.
DiVincenzo has a long recovery ahead, but the Timberwolves guard will have the Celtics’ superstar in his corner if needed.