(Matchups, Schedules, Statistics, More)
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network The 2024 National Basketball Association playoffs begin in earnest Saturday, with 16 teams competing for the league championship after the conclusion of this week’s play-in games.
Forty former Atlantic Coast Conference players are on NBA playoff rosters, representing 13 of the league’s current 15 schools.
With 12 playoff participants, Duke has by far the greatest representation in this year’s NBA postseason among ACC programs. Eight of the Blue Devils’ 12 representatives are starters for playoff teams, although New Orleans forward Zion Williamson recently suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline him for at least the next two weeks.
Virginia (four) has the second-most 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 complete “ACC In 2024 NBA Playoffs” list, which includes brief summaries of the players’ 2023-24 regular-season statistics. A few of the players (as noted) listed transferred away from ACC programs and completed their college careers at non-ACC schools.
Beyond the ACC, two additional players with deep North Carolina roots are listed below. Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo (who played collegiately at Kentucky) and Los Angeles Clippers veteran PJ Tucker (Texas) both grew up in North Carolina and played high school basketball in the state.
This year’s first-round NBA playoff matchups and schedules also are below.
Boston College (1)
Reggie Jackson, Nuggets (22 mpg, 10 ppg, 4 apg, 36% threes)
Clemson (2)
Olivier-Maxence Prosper^, Mavericks (minimal PT during regular season)
Hunter Tyson, Nuggets (minimal PT during regular season)
Duke (12)
Grayson Allen*, Suns (34 mpg, 14 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg, 46% threes)
Paolo Banchero*, Magic (35 mpg, 23 ppg, 7 rpg, 5 apg, 34% threes)
Wendell Carter Jr.*, Magic (26 mpg, 11 ppg, 7 rpg, 37% threes)
Harry Giles III, Lakers (minimal PT during regular season)
Brandon Ingram*, Pelicans (33 mpg, 21 ppg, 5 rpg, 6 apg, 36% threes, 80% FT)
Kyrie Irving*, Mavericks (35 mpg, 26 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg, 41% threes)
Dereck Lively II*, Mavericks (24 mpg, 9 ppg, 7 rpg, 75% FG)
Wendell Moore Jr., Timberwolves (minimal PT during regular season)
Mason Plumlee, Clippers (15 mpg, 5 ppg, 5 rpg, 57% FG, 71% FT)
Cam Reddish, Lakers (21 mpg, 5 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 apg, 34% threes, 76% FT)
Jayson Tatum*, Celtics (36 mpg, 27 ppg, 8 rpg, 5 apg, 38% threes, 83% FT)
Zion Williamson*, Pelicans (32 mpg, 23 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg, 57% FG, 33% threes)
Florida State (3)
Malik Beasley*, Bucks (30 mpg, 11 ppg, 4 rpg, 1 apg, 41% threes, 71% FT)
Jonathan Isaac, Magic (16 mpg, 7 ppg, 5 rpg, 38% threes)
Terance Mann*, Clippers (25 mpg, 9 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg, 35% threes, 83% FT)
Georgia Tech (3)
Jose Alvarado, Pelicans (18 mpg, 7 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg, 38% threes)
Josh Okogie, Suns (16 mpg, 5 ppg, 3 rpg, 1 apg, 31% threes)
Thaddeus Young, Suns (minimal PT during regular season)
Louisville (3)
Damion Lee, Suns (injured)
Donovan Mitchell*, Cavaliers (35 mpg, 27 ppg, 5 rpg, 6 apg, 37% threes, 87% FT)
Terry Rozier, Heat (32 mpg, 16 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg, 37% threes, 91% FT)
Miami (0)
none
North Carolina (2)
Cole Anthony, Magic (22 mp, 12 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg, 34% threes, 83% FT)
Nassir Little, Suns (10 mpg, 3 ppg, 2 rpg, 46% FG, 85% FT)
NC State (3)
Caleb Martin^, Heat (28 mpg, 10 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg, 35% threes, 78% FT)
Dereon Seabron, Pelicans (minimal PT during regular season)
TJ Warren, Timberwolves (11 mpg, 4 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 apg, 44% FG, 75% FT)
Notre Dame (2)
Pat Connaughton, Bucks (22 mpg, 6 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg, 35% threes, 76% FT)
Matt Ryan^, Pelicans (14 mpg, 5 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 apg, 45% threes, 93% FT)
Pittsburgh (0)
none
Syracuse (2)
Oshae Brissett, Celtics (12 mpg, 4 ppg, 3 rpg, 1 apg, 44% FG)
Cole Swider, Heat (minimal PT during regular season)
Virginia (4)
Mamadi Diakite, Knicks (minimal PT during regular season)
Sam Hauser, Celtics (22 mpg, 9 ppg, 4 rpg, 1 apg, 42% threes, 90% FT)
Ty Jerome, Cavaliers (minimal PT during regular season)
Trey Murphy III, Pelicans (30 mpg, 15 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg, 38% threes, 82% FT)
Virginia Tech (1)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Timberwolves (23 mpg, 8 ppg, 2 rpg, 3 apg, 39% threes)
Wake Forest (2)
James Johnson, Pacers (minimal PT during regular season)
Alondes Williams, Heat (minimal PT during regular season)
*—started majority of team’s regular-season games
^—completed college career at a different school
Additional North Carolinians (2)
Bam Adebayo*, Heat (34 mpg, 19 ppg, 10 rpg, 4 apg, 52% FG, 76% FT)
PJ Tucker, Clippers (15 mpg, 2 ppg, 3 rpg, 1 apg, 37% threes)
NOTE: Adebayo played at Pinetown Northside HS and High Point Christian Academy. Tucker played at Raleigh Enloe HS.
Eastern Conference Playoffs (First Round)
#1 Boston Celtics vs. #8 Miami Heat
Game 1: Sunday at Boston, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: Wednesday at Boston, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 27 at Miami, 6 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: April 29 at Miami
Game 5 (if necessary): May 1 at Boston
Game 6 (if necessary): May 3 at Miami
Game 7 (if necessary): May 5 at Boston
#2 New York Knicks vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers
Game 1: Saturday at New York (6 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 2: Monday at New York, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Thursday at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: April 28 at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 30 at New York
Game 6 (if necessary): May 2 at Philadelphia
Game 7 (if necessary): May 4 at New York (TNT)
#3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. #6 Indiana Pacers
Game 1: Sunday at Milwaukee, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Tuesday at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 3: Friday at Indiana, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: April 28 at Indiana, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 30 at Milwaukee
Game 6 (if necessary): May 2 at Indiana
Game 7 (if necessary): May 4 at Milwaukee (TNT)
#4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 Orlando Magic
Game 1: Saturday at Cleveland, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Monday at Cleveland, 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 3: Thursday at Orlando, 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 4: April 27 at Orlando, 1 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 30 at Cleveland
Game 6 (if necessary): May 3 at Orlando
Game 7 (if necessary): May 5 at Cleveland
Western Conference Playoffs (First Round)
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans
Game 1: Sunday at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Wednesday at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 27 at New Orleans, 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: April 29 at New Orleans
Game 5 (if necessary): May 1 at Oklahoma City
Game 6 (if necessary): May 3 at New Orleans
Game 7 (if necessary): May 5 at Oklahoma City
#2 Denver Nuggets vs. #7 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 1: Saturday at Denver, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: Monday at Denver, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Thursday at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: April 27 at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 29 at Denver
Game 6 (if necessary): May 2 at Los Angeles
Game 7 (if necessary): May 4 at Denver (TNT)
#3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. #6 Phoenix Suns
Game 1: Saturday at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Tuesday at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Friday at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: April 28 at Phoenix, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 30 at Minnesota
Game 6 (if necessary): May 2 at Phoenix
Game 7 (if necessary): May 4 at Minnesota
#4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #5 Dallas Mavericks
Game 1: Sunday at Los Angeles, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: Tuesday at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Friday at Dallas, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday April 28 at Dallas, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday May 1 at Los Angeles
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday May 3 at Dallas
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday May 5 at Los Angeles
