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Tag: Donte

  • Timberwolves face tough test without Donte DiVincenzo: Who steps up?


    Donte DiVincenzo will not play Friday night when the Timberwolves visit Madison Square Garden for a matchup with Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks. His absence could pose significant challenges for Minnesota.

    DiVincenzo had replaced Mike Conley in the starting lineup just six games ago and was stellar during that stretch, averaging 17.5 points on 42.1% shooting from three, along with 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

    Meanwhile, Conley, coming off the bench in those six games, has averaged 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.

    It’s unclear how Minnesota will adjust its starting lineup, but there appear to be two logical options. They could either reinstate Conley in the starting five or allocate DiVincenzo’s minutes to Nickeil Alexander-Walker to maintain Conley’s rhythm with the second unit.

    If Conley returns to the starting lineup and his workload increases from 21 minutes per game to over 30, the most viable solution to cover his backup minutes at point guard would be to give rookie Rob Dillingham around 20 minutes per game. Dillingham was called up from the G League on Thursday following a two-game rehab stint for an ankle sprain that sidelined him since December 23.

    DiVincenzo had played in all 40 games this season, making his absence uncharted territory for Minnesota. Compounding the challenge is their grueling schedule, which includes games against the Knicks, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Mavericks, and Nuggets over the next nine days.

    Replacing DiVincenzo’s three-point shooting will be critical. He’s averaged over four made threes per game in the last six contests. While Conley has been shooting efficiently from deep (40% during his reserve role), it will be crucial for the Timberwolves to continue getting offensive contributions from Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Alexander-Walker.

    On the bright side, Reid has been on fire, shooting 46.9% from beyond the arc on 5.3 attempts per game over the last six games. McDaniels has also been reliable, hitting 42.9% of his threes on 3.5 attempts per game during the same stretch.

    Minnesota hasn’t been a strong offensive team this season, and now they face the additional challenge of overcoming the loss of a player who has been their second-best performer of late.

    Related: Anthony Edwards calls Wolves’ starting five ‘terrible’ after Warriors loss

    Related: Chris Finch sends message to Rudy Gobert amid rebounding woes



    The Milwaukee Bucks will be without guard Donte DiVincenzo as they face a tough test against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With DiVincenzo sidelined with an ankle injury, the Bucks will need someone to step up and fill his shoes.

    One player who could potentially step up in DiVincenzo’s absence is Pat Connaughton. The sharpshooting guard has shown flashes of brilliance this season and could provide a much-needed spark off the bench for the Bucks.

    Another player who could step up is Bryn Forbes. The veteran guard has proven himself as a reliable scorer and could help make up for the scoring production lost with DiVincenzo out.

    Ultimately, it will be a team effort for the Bucks to overcome the absence of DiVincenzo. They will need everyone to step up and contribute in order to secure a victory against the Timberwolves. Stay tuned to see who rises to the occasion in this tough test for Milwaukee.

    Tags:

    1. Timberwolves
    2. Donte DiVincenzo
    3. NBA
    4. Basketball
    5. Minnesota Timberwolves
    6. Milwaukee Bucks
    7. Basketball news
    8. Sports
    9. Donte DiVincenzo injury
    10. Timberwolves lineup

    #Timberwolves #face #tough #test #Donte #DiVincenzo #steps

  • Wolves’ Donte DiVincenzo out vs. Knicks; Karl-Anthony Towns iffy


    NEW YORK — Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns is questionable to face his former team Friday with a sprained right thumb, while Minnesota‘s Donte DiVincenzo will miss his return to Madison Square Garden with a toe injury.

    The game is Minnesota’s first at New York since the Knicks acquired Towns from the Timberwolves and sent Julius Randle and DiVincenzo to Minnesota just after training camps opened. The Knicks won at Minnesota last month.

    Towns was hurt Monday in a loss to Detroit and sat out the Knicks’ victory at Philadelphia on Wednesday, when he wore an Eagles shirt on the bench in the first half.

    DiVincenzo recently moved into the starting lineup and scored a season-high 28 points Wednesday in a 116-115 loss to Golden State. The Timberwolves, however, listed him as out on their injury report Thursday with a sprained left big toe.



    The Milwaukee Bucks will be without guard Donte DiVincenzo as they face off against the New York Knicks. DiVincenzo is dealing with a lingering ankle injury that will keep him sidelined for this matchup.

    On the other hand, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ star center Karl-Anthony Towns is listed as questionable for their game against the Toronto Raptors. Towns is dealing with a wrist injury and his availability will be a game-time decision.

    Both teams will be monitoring the status of their key players closely as they look to secure important wins in their respective games. Stay tuned for updates on DiVincenzo and Towns as game time approaches.

    Tags:

    • Donte DiVincenzo injury update
    • Karl-Anthony Towns status against Knicks
    • NBA injury news Wolves vs. Knicks
    • DiVincenzo out, Towns uncertain for Knicks game
    • Wolves’ DiVincenzo sidelined, Towns questionable vs. Knicks

    #Wolves #Donte #DiVincenzo #Knicks #KarlAnthony #Towns #iffy

  • Donte DiVincenzo is embracing Minnesota, and Timberwolves fans are loving the guard right back – Twin Cities

    Donte DiVincenzo is embracing Minnesota, and Timberwolves fans are loving the guard right back – Twin Cities


    A New York megastar by the end of the 2024 NBA postseason finally received the love and admiration of Minnesota basketball fans Sunday evening. As Donte DiVincenzo stood on the floor for a postgame, television interview, roars of “Donte! Donte! Donte!” reverberated throughout Target Center.

    “It’s amazing,” DiVincenzo said as he soaked in the support. “This feels like home.”

    Timberwolves fans know good basketball. And they witnessed the degree to which DiVincenzo produced it in Minnesota’s victory over San Antonio.

    It wasn’t just the season-high 26 points on the strength of five three-point shots. It also was the seven rebounds, the four assists, the hustle displayed when the guard raced down the floor to deny Victor Wembanyama a home-run pass that was sure to end in a Spurs bucket in the game’s closing minutes.

    Pace, hustle, creativity. DiVincenzo has hit 11 threes in total over the Timberwolves’ past two games, and has multiple made triples in each of the past six games. But his impact extends far beyond his jump shot at the moment. There were numerous times against the Spurs when the guard appeared to have the ball on a string, including a play in which he appeared to pull the ball out in transition, only to reverse course and blow by Spurs guard Keldon Johnson for a layup.

    “It’s the stuff I work on,” DiVincenzo said. “I know what I can do. Everybody on the team knows what I can do.”

    When DiVincenzo is rolling, the basketball is beautiful. It’s why he quickly became a fan favorite among Knicks fans during his one-year stop in New York. But Minnesota fans hadn’t gotten the chance to see that player much through the first two months of the current season, outside of a stellar preseason.

    This, however, is the player Knicks fans saw in the latter half of last season, and the guy Wolves fans were hoping to get as a blue-chip piece in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade return.

    “He’s stringing (performances) together right now,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “He’s giving us everything. He’s given us everything we knew he was with the rebounding and the shot-making and the smart play.”

    What took him so long?

    The Timberwolves’ brass lauded DiVincenzo as a “plug-and-play” guy who could seamlessly fit into any roster or system. That sentiment doesn’t necessarily account for a transitional period. DiVincenzo has always needed those in new landing spots. He immediately struggled out of the gates playing with Sacramento, Golden State and New York upon his arrival before hitting his stride.

    The experience in Minnesota has been no different, though the transition has seemingly taken twice as long. That can rather easily be explained away by the timing of the trade, which took place just two days before the start of training camp.

    “I was at home chilling,” DiVincenzo said. “Next thing I know, I’m on a flight going to Minnesota.”

    That’s not easy. DiVincenzo was adamant he makes “no excuses” for himself, but added he had to give himself a personal grace period as he adapted to life in a new city with a new organization and offense. Not only did he have to learn new teammates and a new system, but he also had to learn a new metropolis and determine how his family would fit into it.

    Beyond that, Wolves center Rudy Gobert sensed some lingering frustration from the trade, which is natural. There’s a resentment when you’re dealt from a place where you experienced such success.

    “But when you want to succeed, you gotta let that go,” Gobert said. “I think now, from what I’m feeling, he’s finally present. He’s happy. He’s himself, and he’s in the moment. He’s able to have fun being who he is and be fully, mentally there.”

    Now present, DiVincenzo looks like himself on the court. That, Gobert noted, means being a two-way player who’s always making the right play and knocking down key shots.

    “That’s who he is,” Gobert said.

    And everyone is finally getting to see it. DiVincenzo credited conversations with folks throughout the organization — from teammates to coaches and front office members — that gave him an “at-home feel.”

    “That reassurance of, ‘Just go play. Don’t worry about anything else,’ ” he said. “Telling myself that. It’s one thing to have somebody else tell you, and then you’re in your own head, but get comfortable. Be yourself, get comfortable and whatever happens, happens. … Everybody in this locker room knows that we’re living with me shooting threes. I think that’s the most confidence you can have is knowing when I shoot the ball, everybody on the bench, on the court thinks it’s going in.”



    It’s safe to say that Donte DiVincenzo has quickly become a fan favorite among Timberwolves fans in his short time with the team. The guard, who was acquired in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this year, has wasted no time in embracing his new home in Minnesota.

    From his impressive performances on the court to his interactions with fans off the court, DiVincenzo has shown that he is committed to making a positive impact both on and off the court. His hustle, energy, and work ethic have endeared him to Timberwolves fans, who appreciate his hard-nosed style of play.

    But it’s not just his play on the court that has won over fans – DiVincenzo has also shown a genuine appreciation for the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota. Whether he’s exploring the local food scene, attending community events, or simply engaging with fans on social media, DiVincenzo has made it clear that he is fully embracing his new surroundings.

    And Timberwolves fans are loving him right back. DiVincenzo has quickly become a fan favorite, with his jersey flying off the shelves and chants of “Donte! Donte!” ringing throughout the arena during games. His infectious energy and passion for the game have resonated with fans, who are excited to see what the future holds for the talented guard.

    As the Timberwolves continue to make strides on the court, Donte DiVincenzo is proving to be a key piece of the puzzle. And with his unwavering commitment to the team and the city of Minneapolis, it’s clear that he is here to stay – and Timberwolves fans couldn’t be happier.

    Tags:

    1. Donte DiVincenzo
    2. Minnesota Timberwolves
    3. NBA
    4. Basketball
    5. Twin Cities
    6. Basketball player
    7. Minnesota sports
    8. Donte DiVincenzo trade
    9. Timberwolves news
    10. Minnesota basketball

    #Donte #DiVincenzo #embracing #Minnesota #Timberwolves #fans #loving #guard #Twin #Cities

  • How Dennis Schröder helped Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo out of slump – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

    How Dennis Schröder helped Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo out of slump – NBC Sports Bay Area & California


    Dennis Schröder helped reshape former Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo’s outlook after he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the eve of the NBA season.

    DiVincenzo revealed in an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski that he traded texts with Schröder earlier this season after the latter was traded to Golden State. 

    “He was just straightforward with his words,” DiVincenzo told Krawczynski. “He said that it’s hard. You just have to go out and do it. No matter where you’re at, just be you and just go do it. You look yourself in the mirror and be like, all right, the situation is the situation. Let last year go. This year is this year.”

    DiVincenzo was a critical component of the New York Knicks last season, helping the team make a run in the Eastern Conference playoffs. While he was expected to contribute to the Knicks again this season, he was part of the massive Karl-Anthony Towns trade two days before the start of training camp. His start to the season was a rough one, as he struggled to adjust to a new team, but thanks to Schröder’s encouragement, he’s beginning to look like his old self.

    The 27-year-old spent one season with the Warriors during the 2022-2023 NBA season before agreeing to a four-year $50 million contract with the Knicks.

    Schröder still is settling in with Golden State since coming over in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. While he has flashed brilliance at times, he and the Warriors are mired in a prolonged slump of mediocrity.

    At 16-15, Golden State still is in contention for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but the margin for error is razor-thin for the rest of the season. Hopefully, Schröder can channel DiVincenzo and stage his own comeback with his new team.

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    It has been a tough stretch for Timberwolves’ guard Donte DiVincenzo, but teammate Dennis Schröder has been instrumental in helping him break out of his slump. The two have been working closely together in practice, with Schröder providing guidance and support to help DiVincenzo regain his confidence on the court.

    Schröder, known for his leadership and work ethic, has been a positive influence on DiVincenzo both on and off the court. The veteran guard has been offering advice on shooting technique, defensive strategies, and overall mindset, all of which have helped DiVincenzo improve his performance in recent games.

    Thanks to Schröder’s mentorship, DiVincenzo has been able to break out of his slump and make a significant impact for the Timberwolves. His improved play has not gone unnoticed, with fans and analysts alike praising his recent performances.

    The dynamic between Schröder and DiVincenzo is a prime example of the importance of teamwork and support within a basketball team. With Schröder’s guidance, DiVincenzo has been able to overcome his struggles and become a key contributor for the Timberwolves.

    As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see how Schröder and DiVincenzo continue to work together and help lead the Timberwolves to success on the court. Their partnership serves as a reminder of the impact that one player can have on the growth and development of their teammates.

    Tags:

    1. Dennis Schröder
    2. Timberwolves
    3. Donte DiVincenzo
    4. NBA
    5. Basketball
    6. Slump
    7. NBC Sports Bay Area
    8. California
    9. Basketball News
    10. Player Support

    #Dennis #Schröder #helped #Timberwolves #Donte #DiVincenzo #slump #NBC #Sports #Bay #Area #California

  • Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo finally embraces new home by letting go of New York

    Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo finally embraces new home by letting go of New York


    MINNEAPOLIS — The realization of what it was going to take to fully become a Minnesota Timberwolf came slowly for Donte DiVincenzo.

    No matter how often he said that he was happy to be in Minnesota, no matter how welcoming his new teammates and coaches were to a player they so desperately needed, DiVincenzo could not help himself from holding on to what he left behind.

    For an athlete, there is nothing more intoxicating than the roar of the crowd, and DiVincenzo’s last memories of his one season in the Big Apple were soaked in adoration from the New York Knicks’ faithful. Madison Square Garden erupted for him in the Knicks’ last game of the season, when he scored 39 points during a loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of their second-round series. And his ears were still ringing from the mayhem of Game 2 of the first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, against whom his 3-pointer capped a miraculous comeback win and left him almost speechless from the volume inside one of the league’s most storied arenas.

    The “Big Ragu” was a smash hit on Broadway, averaging a career-high 15.5 points per game and hitting 40 percent of his 3s for an upstart team that fought to the death. When he was traded on the eve of training camp along with Julius Randle to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns, DiVincenzo told himself that it was for the best. The Knicks had just spent a boatload of draft capital to acquire another wing in Mikal Bridges, meaning he likely was not going to be able to hold on to his starting spot, and he was coming to one of the rising teams in the Western Conference, one with a megawatt star in Anthony Edwards that was entering the season with championship aspirations.

    The Timberwolves turned down several offers from the Knicks over the past year and only relented after they included DiVincenzo in the deal, so he knew he was wanted in his new home.

    But that roar. It is straight dopamine into the veins. You don’t just leave that behind. You don’t just forget that when you step on the plane.

    “From what I felt, I think he was still hanging on to some frustration from what happened,” Wolves center Rudy Gobert said. “He’s human. But when you want to succeed, you’ve got to let that go.”

    There was an anvil hanging around his neck. The past was preventing him from fully embracing the present. There was only one thing to do.

    “Stop comparing what you did last year and just go out and hoop,” DiVincenzo said.

    Unlike most offseason trades, DiVincenzo had no time to process this one. The Timberwolves and Knicks pulled off their blockbuster just two days before training camp opened. Like the rest of the principals involved in the deal, DiVincenzo was caught completely off guard.

    “I was at home chilling,” he said. “Next thing I know, I’m on a flight going to Minnesota.”

    It was nothing against Minnesota or the Timberwolves. DiVincenzo was genuinely excited to play with Edwards and come to a team that he knew valued his skill set. It was just jarring to have to relocate so close to the start of a season. As soon as the regular season began, DiVincenzo just could not find the same gear that had led to his career campaign with New York.

    Through the first 18 games of the season, he averaged 8.9 points on 35 percent shooting, including 31.5 percent from 3-point range. This was not the fiery competitor, plug-and-play, 3-and-D wing the Wolves thought they were getting. This was an angsty, erratic player prone to turnovers on drives to the basket and scuds that clanked hard off the back iron when he pulled up from 3.

    Everyone, from players to coaches to fans, wanted to see this new-look Timberwolves team just pick up where it left off last season. The reality of the situation was much more complex.

    “It’s hard, because you know that going back to the trade, you lose a huge piece,” DiVincenzo said of Towns. “And you have two guys coming in that aren’t just throw-in guys. They’re key rotation guys that you have to figure it out. And when things aren’t going well, there’s a lot of stones thrown at you guys because of the success that the team had last year, but understanding stay together and figure it out.”

    In the gossip-riddled NBA, speculation started to spread of DiVincenzo’s unhappiness with his role. He went from starting the last 74 games of last season and averaging 36 minutes per night in the playoffs for the Knicks to coming off of the bench for 24 minutes a game in Minnesota. Those Knicks were the toast of the town for their unexpected success in the Eastern Conference playoffs. These Timberwolves were booed at home earlier in the season because they were not meeting the expectations set by last season’s run to the West finals.

    DiVincenzo’s body language did little to dissuade the rumor-mongers. Even when he was making shots, he reacted more with a sigh of relief than the bravado that is his calling card. His shoulders slumped with every turnover that came from trying to get Gobert the ball. His answers in interviews grew edgier as he was asked about the team’s struggles to find a rhythm.

    “Everybody holds themselves to a high standard, so when it’s not going to that ability of what you know you’re capable of, it seems like the negative is worse than what it actually is,” DiVincenzo said. “For me, it’s just understanding that some games aren’t going to happen. You’re not going to have your night. But what can you hang your hat on? Making energy plays, doing the little things and giving yourself up to your teammates.”

    Through all of the early-season struggles, the Wolves never wavered with DiVincenzo. They love his talent, love his contract and see him as a main part of their core going forward. Edwards went through a shooting session with him on Thanksgiving to try to boost his spirits. Chris Finch talked to him about where he feels comfortable getting his shots and how they can make things easier for him. Mike Conley and Naz Reid encouraged him to keep shooting no matter what.

    But it was a chance conversation with veteran guard (and Wolves nemesis) Dennis Schröder that helped crystalize DiVincenzo’s outlook.

    When Schröder was traded from Brooklyn to Golden State last week, he sought out DiVincenzo for notes on what it was like to play for the Warriors. DiVincenzo raved about his experience in Golden State and offered some thoughts on how Schröder could acclimate to his new surroundings. Schröder then turned the tables on him. He told DiVincenzo that it was time to stop fixating on his transition from New York to Minnesota and just get out there and play.

    “He was just straightforward with his words,” DiVincenzo said. “He said that it’s hard. You just have to go out and do it. No matter where you’re at, just be you and just go do it. You look yourself in the mirror and be like, all right, the situation is the situation. Let last year go. This year is this year.”

    Over the last six games, DiVincenzo is starting to look much more like the difference-maker he was in New York and the key role player who helped the Milwaukee Bucks win a championship. In that span, he is averaging 15.2 points on 50 percent shooting, including 49 percent from 3-point range. He scored a season-high 26 points on Sunday night and was a team-best plus-23 in a 112-110 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota’s third straight win.

    DiVincenzo hit 5 of 10 3s and also had seven rebounds and four assists, one game after hitting six 3s and scoring 22 points in the Wolves’ come-from-behind win in Houston.

    He’s giving us everything,” Finch said. “He’s giving us everything we knew he was with the rebounding and the shotmaking and the smart play.”

    The key for DiVincenzo lately is that he has been so much more than just a shooter. He is grabbing rebounds in traffic, helping the Wolves out-board 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs 56-41 on Sunday night. He is finding some chemistry with Gobert, hitting him on lobs and pick-and-roll actions for easy buckets.

    And he may have had the play of the game when he raced back on defense to break up a pass from Chris Paul to Wembanyama that could have cut Minnesota’s lead to one point with 90 seconds to play.

    “I think that’s what gets me going. It’s what gets everybody else going,” DiVincenzo said. “That’s who I am. It’s what my identity is. It’s also what our identity as a team is. … The good is contagious; so is the bad. So, those little plays of just trying to make a play then turns into other guys making plays.”

    As he started to find his footing, the sauce is returning to Ragu’s game as well. Now, when he hits an open 3, he will do his trademark celebration and hold out his right arm with three fingers extended while pointing to the ice in his veins.

    He unleashed a finger roll on a drive to the basket against San Antonio and also froze Keldon Johnson in transition with a slow spin move, a game drenched in confidence.

    “Getting back to playing for the joy and love of the game versus comparing what I did and trying to build off of it,” DiVincenzo said. “Just being out there. You can’t take it for granted. You’re playing in the NBA, and you’re playing for one of the best teams in the league, and you’re playing with one of the best young superstars in the league. That dude has fun. Go have fun with him.”

    The Wolves are all having fun right now. After a three-game losing streak dropped them to a disappointing .500, they went on the road to beat Dallas on Christmas Day and came back from 16 down with five minutes to play in Houston to stun the Rockets. They were down eight points early in the fourth quarter against San Antonio, but DiVincenzo played the last 17 minutes of the second half to help rally the Wolves (17-14), who are 9-4 in their last 13. Every one of those wins has come against a team with a record over .500 at the time.

    Rudy Gobert had 17 points, 15 rebounds and a block against the Spurs. Randle added 16 points and four assists and gave it his all on defense against the towering Wembanyama, who had 34 points on 13-of-30 shooting.

    After the Timberwolves got a final defensive stop to preserve their win, DiVincenzo was interviewed in the arena as the player of the game. The sellout crowd hollered “Donte! Donte! Donte!” as he answered questions, a warm and well-earned embrace from a fan base that has been waiting to see this version of him.

    “It was super cool,” DiVincenzo said with a wide smile.

    And he left it at that. No need to compare it to what he heard in New York. That is in the past. There are new memories to make.

    “Just let go. Just go play. This is home. I want to be here,” DiVincenzo said. “There’s nothing else outside of that. It’s not (speculation) that I don’t want to be here. It’s not (people saying) that I’m p—-ed off. No. I’m happy as hell.

    “My family’s here. I’m raising my family here. It’s a beautiful city. I want to be here. Now, just go play.”

    (Top photo: David Berding / Getty Images )





    After being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves from the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason, Donte DiVincenzo has finally embraced his new home by letting go of his attachment to New York. DiVincenzo, who was born and raised in Delaware, spent the first three years of his NBA career with the Bucks after being drafted by them in 2018.

    Despite having a successful stint in Milwaukee, DiVincenzo struggled to adjust to his new surroundings in Minnesota at first. However, after some time and effort, he has fully embraced his new team and city, letting go of his ties to New York.

    In a recent interview, DiVincenzo expressed his excitement about the upcoming season with the Timberwolves and how he is looking forward to making an impact on the court. He also mentioned how grateful he is for the warm welcome he has received from his new teammates and fans in Minnesota.

    With a fresh start and a new mindset, DiVincenzo is ready to take on this new chapter in his career with the Timberwolves and make a name for himself in his new home. Fans can expect to see him bring his energy, hustle, and tenacity to the court as he helps lead the Timberwolves to success in the upcoming season.

    Tags:

    1. Timberwolves
    2. Donte DiVincenzo
    3. Minnesota Timberwolves
    4. NBA
    5. Basketball
    6. Trade
    7. New York
    8. Milwaukee Bucks
    9. Player transfer
    10. Embracing new team

    #Timberwolves #Donte #DiVincenzo #finally #embraces #home #letting #York

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