One of the most anticipated weeks of the NBA season is here. Old and new rivalries will take on new life from January 21-25 thanks to Rivals Week, the latest twist to the league’s schedule that aims to renew viewer interest with 10 exciting matchups where pride is at stake.
The third NBA Rivals Week will include 10 games that will be broadcast on national television across four networks: TNT, ESPN, ABC, and NBA TV. These games include team and personal rivalries, some as old as the league and others as new as last season.
Enmities as old as the Lakers and Celtics or New York and Brooklyn will have a place in this fast-paced schedule. Likewise, personal duels, such as that of the most recent MVPs, will give the winner bragging rights.
The most exciting storylines of Rivals Week
New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets: The Battle of the Boroughs could not be missed in Rivals Week. The Knicks have won the last eight games, but three of those five were decided by less than five points. The winner will leave with their pride intact, while the loser will go home to lick their wounds.
Philadelphia 76ers at Denver Nuggets: The Battle of the MVPs will pit Joel Embiid, winner of the award in 2023, against three-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic (2021, 2022, 2024). Embiid has won six of his eight matchups against Jokic, who will look to strike his rival’s pride with a victory in his own court.
Boston Celticsat Los Angeles Lakers: The Rivalry. These two classic opponents have more titles in their cabinets than half of the NBA combined. The Lakers have 17 trophies to the Celtics’ 18, and the latter can boast that they won eight of those trophies to Los Angeles.
Rivals Week Schedule
(All times are ET)
- Jan. 21: New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m., TNT)
- Jan. 21: Philadelphia 76ers at Denver Nuggets (10 p.m., TNT)
- Jan. 22: Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Jan. 22: Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings (10 p.m., ESPN)
- Jan. 23: Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (7:30 p.m., TNT)
- Jan. 23: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m., TNT)
- Jan. 24: New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies (8 p.m., NBA TV)
- Jan. 25: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves (3 p.m., ABC)
- Jan. 25: Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks (5:30 p.m., ABC)
- Jan. 25: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors (8:30 p.m., ABC)