After missing a three-point attempt from way beyond the arc, Donte DiVincenzo instinctively did something he has likely done all his career: he took a negative step.
A negative step is when a player drives their foot into the ground behind them — a technique used to generate additional power so the player can explode forward.
While at first it looked as though the veteran guard had slipped and fallen, it was clear that something was wrong. As DiVincenzo remained on the floor, waving frantically, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch called a timeout.
Edwards and DiVincenzo Ruled Out After Suffering Game 4 Injuries
Later on in the game, with 2:41 left in the second quarter, Denver Nuggets wing Cameron Johnson was attacking downhill. Despite a heavy contest from Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Johnson managed to make the layup.
Colliding with Johnson near the basket, Edwards landed awkwardly on his left leg. His leg straightened out, and according to the play-by-play announcers, it looked like a knee hyperextension.
The Curse Of Zeros
Team sources from the Timberwolves told ESPN’s Shams Charania that DiVincenzo tore his right Achilles.
The Timberwolves just announced that Donte DiVincenzo will undergo surgery this afternoon in New York by specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley after DiVincenzo sustained a torn right Achilles tendon in Saturday’s Game 4 win over Denver. https://t.co/7CrYHq4RTN
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 26, 2026
The non-contact injury came barely a minute into the game, just as DiVincenzo was about to chase a rebound off his missed three-point attempt.
The Achilles tear was an increasingly common injury in the 2025 postseason. Three different Eastern Conference stars suffered the same fate.
The first was now Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who tore his Achilles tendon during Game 4 of the Milwaukee Bucks‘ first-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers. Despite his injury, Lillard went on to win the 2026 NBA 3-Point Contest. There is some speculation as to whether he could return for the 2026 postseason.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon during Game 4 of a second-round series against the New York Knicks. Despite the severity of the injury, Tatum was the first of the three star players to return after sustaining an Achilles injury during the 2025 postseason.
The Celtics’ All-Star made his return in an early March game against the Dallas Mavericks, just 298 days after tearing his Achilles tendon. Presently, Tatum appears healthy, even hitting a clutch three-pointer to secure a Game 3 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Tyrese Haliburton was the last of the three to tear his Achilles tendon, doing so in the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals. This led him to miss the entirety of the 2o25-26 season.
The number of non-contact Achilles injuries appears to suggest an underlying issue in the ways in which players move during the game. Additionally, many online have speculated about the jersey number zero being cursed due to the seemingly bad injury luck that it brings to the players who wear it.
Edwards’ Injury Confirmed as Bone Bruise, Hyperextension
On Sunday morning, Charania confirmed that Edwards suffered a “bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee” and will miss “multiple weeks” as a result.
Edwards had been dealing with inflammation in his right knee leading up to the postseason. Game 4 against Denver was the only recent instance where he was not listed as questionable on the injury report. Finch took this as a sign that Edwards’ condition was improving.
Recovery And Return?
With DiVincenzo’s injury being confirmed as an Achilles tear, the timeline for his return is anywhere from 9 to 12 months. The former NBA champion will likely miss the entire 2026-27 season.
On the other hand, Edwards’ injuries will sideline him for a significant portion of Minnesota’s playoff run. However, according to the MRI, he avoided any significant damage to his knee.
Still, these absences leave the Timberwolves shorthanded — without their leading scorer and a key offensive contributor — as they head into Game 5 on Monday.
© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
