The Warriors could not have asked for a better start in Game 3 against the Kings on Thursday night inside the Chase Center.
While Golden State eventually pulled away from Sacramento and secured the 114–97 victory backed by Stephen Curry’s 36 points and Kevon Looney’s 20-rebound performance, this game was filled with many spectacular moments of elite-level basketball.
But one play that was among the most talked about came from the Warriors’ Donte DiVincenzo, who converted an acrobatic layup at the buzzer to end the first quarter of last night’s game. Even Curry had a reaction to it.
DiVincenzo fielded a cross-court pass from Andrew Wiggins. From there, he hit Kings’ Trey Lyles with a jab step and a between-the-legs crossover with a stepback, freezing Lyles before adding in a silky smooth crossover and finishing with a scooping, Curry-like layup as the buzzer sounded to give the Warriors a 29–20 advantage.
What a move by DiVincenzo 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/JAW6JJIHx8
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 21, 2023
But even in pulling off the spectacular layup, some in NBA Twitter could not believe the Warriors’ guard pulled off the sequence of moves capped with the miraculous one-hand finish without double dribbling.
Was this a double dribble at the end of the first quarter? pic.twitter.com/uO35ruYKkS
— Cameron Salerno (@cameronsalerno1) April 21, 2023
NBC Sports California (Kings TV feed) showing a double-dribble by Donte DiVincenzo that wasn't called at the end of the 1st.
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) April 21, 2023
Hopefully the refs do better on these calls. Can't just foul the Kings for everything. #SacramentoProud #FeelTheRoar 🐮🔔
DiVincenzo with a beautiful scoop finish, but how was that not a double dribble on the hesi. Clearly tosses the ball from one hand to the other without dribbling which is why the defender bit so hard. Guys get away with everything these days
— James Seitz (@lamelo_call) April 21, 2023
DiVincenzo’s crossover before converting the acrobatic layup was quick and appeared as though he double dribbled on replay. He was not called for it however, and helped give the Warriors—who never trailed in the game—the early momentum they needed to secure their first win in the series.
Maybe another filthy move from DiVincenzo in Game 4 can give Golden State an edge as it seeks to tie the best-of-seven series on Sunday.
