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Eight Duke Basketball Products Face Elimination in NBA Playoffs

Duke basketball's NBA Playoffs presence may dramatically dwindle this week.
Matt Giles|
Eight Duke Basketball Products Face Elimination in NBA Playoffs
Eight Duke Basketball Products Face Elimination in NBA Playoffs

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Duke Blue Devils

When the NBA Playoffs began, 11 former Duke basketball players were on a postseason roster.

One of them, Seth Curry, has already seen his Brooklyn Nets get ousted via the Philadelphia 76ers' 4-0 sweep. And one could argue that Jayson Tatum and RJ Barrett are the only two NBA Blue Devils likely to advance past the first round.

Tatum and the Boston Celtics enjoy a 3-1 lead over the Atlanta Hawks as that series heads back to Boston for Game 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday. But a Celtics win would end the seasons of one-and-done Duke basketball forwards AJ Griffin and Jalen Johnson, not to mention Atlanta's head coach in former Blue Devil guard Quin Snyder.

RELATED: Duke Faces From Long Ago Reuniting with Hawks

Meanwhile, Barrett and the New York Knicks now have a 3-1 advantage over the Cleveland Cavaliers. That's partly due to Barrett bouncing back from a dreadful shooting slump to combine for 45 points across the Knicks' two recent wins at home. They'll try to dispose of the Cavaliers on the road in Game 5 at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday.

Note: Although Trevor Keels is on a two-way contract with the Knicks, he is not on the postseason roster. The same goes for Denver Nuggets forward Jack White.

Every other Duke basketball talent remaining in the NBA Playoffs could be out as soon as their next game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, including former Blue Devils Austin Rivers and Wendell Moore Jr., trail the Nuggets, 3-1, with their Game 5 matchup set for 9 p.m. ET Tuesday in Denver.

Mason Plumlee and the Los Angeles Clippers face a 3-1 deficit to the Phoenix Suns, with Game 5 in Phoenix at 10 p.m. ET Tuesday.

RELATED: List of Every Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

As for Grayson Allen and the Milwaukee Bucks, who finished the regular season with the league's best record, they are on upset alert. The Miami Heat lead the series, 3-1, with Game 5 in Milwaukee slated for 9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.

Finally, the Memphis Grizzlies, featuring two Blue Devils who receive regular minutes off the bench in Tyus Jones and Luke Kennard, are in danger of being eliminated at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers following Monday night's 117-111 road loss. Game 5 is at 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday in Memphis.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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