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Duke Basketball: Another Rough Night for NBA Blue Devils

Only two Duke basketball products advanced past the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Matt Giles|
Duke Basketball: Another Rough Night for NBA Blue Devils
Duke Basketball: Another Rough Night for NBA Blue Devils

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Duke Blue Devils

Following the Memphis Grizzlies' humbling 125-85 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of their first-round series on Friday night, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett are the only two former Duke basketball players remaining in postseason action.

There were 11 former Blue Devils on rosters when the NBA Playoffs began. So less than 20 percent of them saw their squads advance to the second round, which gets underway this weekend.

Luke Kennard, who led the NBA in 3-point percentage for the second year in a row, sat out the Grizzlies' season-ending defeat with left shoulder soreness.

As for Memphis' other former Duke basketball guard, Tyus Jones, who had the league's highest assist-to-turnover ratio for the fifth straight season, tallied only three points. He missed all but one of his five field goal attempts.

At least the rest of Jones' box score was decent: four rebounds, three assists, four steals, and two turnovers in 18 minutes off the bench.

Memphis was the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. But the Grizzlies allowed the No. 7 seed Lakers to become only the second team to prevail in a playoff series after playing in the Play-In Tournament (it debuted in 2020).

The first to do so was the No. 8 seed Miami Heat via their 128-126 overtime win over the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in their decisive Game 5 battle on Wednesday night.

After that game, Duke basketball alum Grayson Allen got roasted on social media for coming up empty with the ball in his hands as time expired on the Bucks' season.

Barrett and the No. 5 seed Knicks begin the Eastern Conference Semifinals by welcoming the Heat to Madison Square Garden at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Meanwhile, Tatum and the No. 2 seed Celtics are gearing up to host the No. 3 seed Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the other East series at 7:30 p.m. ET Monday.

RELATED: List of Every Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

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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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