(Matchups, Schedules, Statistics, More)
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
The 2024 National Basketball Association playoffs continued in late May, with the start of the conference finals, as four teams — the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves — resumed their pursuit of the league championship.
Ten former Atlantic Coast Conference players are on those four NBA playoff rosters, representing seven 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 finals.
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 Finals” 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 finals matchups and schedules also are below.
Boston College (0)
none
Clemson (1)
Olivier-Maxence Prosper^, Mavericks (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 (0)
none
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 (1)
Sam Hauser, Celtics (22 mpg, 9 ppg, 4 rpg, 1 apg, 42% threes, 90% FT)
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 Finals
#1 Boston Celtics vs. #6 Indiana Pacers
Game 1: Tuesday at Boston, 8 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2:Thursday at Boston, 8 pm (ESPN)
Game 3: Saturday at Indiana, 8:30 pm (ABC)
Game 4: May 27 at Indiana, 8 pm (ESPN2)
Game 5 (if necessary): May 29 at Boston, 8 pm (ESPN)
Game 6 (if necessary): May 31 at Indiana, 8 pm (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): June 2 at Boston, 8 pm (ESPN)
Western Conference Finals
#3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. #5 Dallas Mavericks
Game 1: Wednesday at Minnesota, 8:30 pm (TNT)
Game 2: Friday at Minnesota, 8:30 pm (TNT)
Game 3: Sunday at Dallas, 8 pm (TNT)
Game 4: May 28 at Dallas, 8:30 pm (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): May 30 at Minnesota, 8:30 pm (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): June 1 at Dallas, 8:30 pm (TNT)
Game 7 (if necessary): June 3 at Minnesota, 8:30 pm (TNT)
