Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks
(Matchups, Schedules, Statistics, More)
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
(Last updated June 12, 2024)
The 2024 National Basketball Association playoffs have only two teams still standing, and the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks will open their best-of-seven championship series on Thursday (8:30 pm, ABC).
Six former Atlantic Coast Conference players are on the playoff rosters of the two finalists, representing four of the league’s current 15 schools.
With 12 total playoff participants, Duke had by far the greatest representation in this year’s NBA postseason among ACC programs. Three of the Blue Devils’ representatives — including superstars Kyrie Irving (Dallas) and Jayson Tatum (Boston) — will be among the key players as the Mavericks take on the favored Celtics.
Virginia (four) had the second-most total NBA playoff participants among ACC schools this year, followed by Florida State (three), Georgia Tech (three), Louisville (three) and NC State (three).
Below is the revised “ACC In 2024 NBA Finals” list, which includes brief summaries of the players’ 2024 playoff statistics.
Irving (2010-11), Tatum (2016-17) and Dallas center Dereck Lively II (2022-23) were all one-and-done players at Duke.
Boston forward Oshae Brissett was a starter and double-figure scorer during each of his two seasons at Syracuse (2017-19). Boston forward Sam Hauser was a three-year starter at Marquette before becoming a first-team All-ACC honoree during his senior season at Virginia (2020-21).
Dallas forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper played limited minutes during his single season at Clemson (2020-21) before becoming a star at Marquette.
This year’s NBA Finals schedule also is below.
ACC IN THE NBA FINALS
Boston College (0)
none
Clemson (1)
Olivier-Maxence Prosper^, Mavericks (minimal PT during playoffs)
Duke (3)
Kyrie Irving*, Mavericks (40 mpg, 23 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 42% threes)
Dereck Lively II*, Mavericks (22 mpg, 9 ppg, 7 rpg, 67% FG)
Jayson Tatum*, Celtics (41 mpg, 26 ppg, 10 rpg, 6 apg, 85% FT)
Florida State (0)
none
Georgia Tech (0)
none
Louisville (0)
none
Miami (0)
none
North Carolina (0)
none
NC State (0)
none
Notre Dame (0)
none
Pittsburgh (0)
none
Syracuse (1)
Oshae Brissett, Celtics (minimal PT during playoffs)
Virginia (1)
Sam Hauser, Celtics (15 mpg, 4 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 apg, 33% threes)
Virginia Tech (0)
none
Wake Forest (0)
none
*—started majority of team’s regular-season games
^—completed college career at a different school
NBA Finals
#1 (East) Boston Celtics vs. #5 (West) Dallas Mavericks
Game 1: Boston 107, Dallas 89
Game 2: Boston 105, Dallas 98
Game 3: Wednesday at Dallas, 8:30 pm (ABC)
Game 4: Friday at Dallas, 8:30 pm (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): June 17 at Boston, 8:30 pm (ABC)
Game 6 (if necessary): June 20 at Dallas, 8:30 pm (ABC)
Game 7 (if necessary): June 23 at Boston, 8 pm (ABC)
