(Matchups, Schedules, Statistics, More)
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network The 2024 National Basketball Association playoffs continued in early May, with the start of the conference semifinals, as eight teams resumed their pursuit of the league championship after winning their respective first-round series.
Fifteen former Atlantic Coast Conference players are on those eight NBA playoff rosters, representing nine 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. Four of the Blue Devils’ 12 representatives, including starters Kyrie Irving (Dallas), Dereck Lively II (Dallas) and Jayson Tatum (Boston), play for teams still competing in the conference semifinals.
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 Conference Semifinals” 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.
This year’s NBA conference semifinal 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 (4)
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)
Jayson Tatum*, Celtics (36 mpg, 27 ppg, 8 rpg, 5 apg, 38% threes, 83% FT)
Florida State (0)
none
Georgia Tech (0)
none
Louisville (1)
Donovan Mitchell*, Cavaliers (35 mpg, 27 ppg, 5 rpg, 6 apg, 37% threes, 87% FT)
Miami (0)
none
North Carolina (0)
none
NC State (1)
TJ Warren, Timberwolves (11 mpg, 4 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 apg, 44% FG, 75% FT)
Notre Dame (0)
none
Pittsburgh (0)
none
Syracuse (1)
Oshae Brissett, Celtics (12 mpg, 4 ppg, 3 rpg, 1 apg, 44% FG)
Virginia (3)
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)
Virginia Tech (1)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Timberwolves (23 mpg, 8 ppg, 2 rpg, 3 apg, 39% threes)
Wake Forest (1)
James Johnson, Pacers (minimal PT during regular season)
*—started majority of team’s regular-season games
^—completed college career at a different school
Eastern Conference Playoffs (Second Round)
#1 Boston Celtics vs. #4 Cleveland Cavaliers
Game 1: Tuesday at Boston, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2: Thursday at Boston, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3: Saturday at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 4: May 13 at Cleveland, 7 pm (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): May 15 at Boston, TBD (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): May 17 at Cleveland, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): May 19 at Boston, TBD (TBD)
#2 New York Knicks vs. #6 Indiana Pacers
Game 1: Monday at New York, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2: Wednesday at New York, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Friday at Indiana, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday at Indiana, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): May 14 at New York, TBD (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): May 17 at Indiana, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): May 19 at New York, TBD (TBD)
Western Conference Playoffs (Second Round)
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #5 Dallas Mavericks
Game 1: Tuesday at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2: Thursday at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3: Saturday at Dallas, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 4: May 13 at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): May 15 at Oklahoma City, TBD (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): May 18 at Dallas, 8:30 pm (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): May 20 at Oklahoma City, 8:30 pm (TNT)
#2 Denver Nuggets vs. #3 Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Timberwolves 106, Mavericks 99
Game 2: Monday at Denver, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Friday at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): May 14 at Denver, TBD (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): May 16 at Minnesota, 8:30 pm (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): May 19 at Denver, TBD (TBD)
