Image Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

What is NBA Rivals Week? Which are the historic rival teams in NBA?

In the first Rivals Week 2025 match, the Knicks defeated the Nets 99-95.

Image Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

In 2022, the NBA dedicated a week to classic rivalries between teams and players and introduced the NBA Rivals Week. One of the highly-anticipated weeks in the NBA, this thrilling twist is aimed to renew viewers’ interest and make things more exciting.

The latest season of the NBA Rivals week is scheduled from Tuesday, January 21 to Saturday, January 25, where a total of 14 rival teams will engage in ten high octane clashes. These games will be televised across four networks- TNT, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV.

What is the NBA Rivals Week?

In the 2022-23 season, the NBA decided to add a twist to the regular season by dedicating a week to its top rivalries between teams and players. The NBA Rivals week features a game between famous rivalries like the Celtics and Lakers due to their long-glorious history of competition,

It also features matches between the teams in close proximity to each other including the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. Moreover, the thrilling Rivals Week also has rematches of the recent playoff series as well as games between some biggest names in the league.

Classic and budding rivalries between teams and players will take center stage for the third annual NBA Rivals Week.

Rivalries will be the focus of 10 nationally televised games across four networks over five days from Jan. 21-25. pic.twitter.com/xYLEfRhq5Z
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 15, 2024

Which are the historic rival teams in the NBA?

The Celtics-Lakers Rivalry

The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers is one of the most exciting and intense rivalries between the two top NBA teams. Known as the greatest rivalry in the league, both teams have met each other a total of 12 times in the NBA finals, with first happening in 1959.

Both teams have won the highest numbers of NBA Championships- the Celtics have won 18 times while the Lakers won 17 times.

In 2025 NBA Rivals Week, they will be up against each other on January 23 at 10 p.m.

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Cavaliers-Warriors Rivalry

The rivalry between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors became prominent in the mid 2010s, with both teams appearing in four consecutive NBA finals from 2015 to 2018. While the Warriors won three championships, the Cavaliers won one.

Bulls vs Pistons Rivalry

The rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons started in the 1980s. The intensity of the rivalry grew when Michael Jordan emerged as one of the best league players and the Pistons emerged as a playoff contender.

The sides often clashed in intense battles, putting on their contrasting styles of fitness and force on display.

Heat-Knicks Rivalry

Another fiery rivalry in the NBA is the one between the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks. It all grew when the two teams clashed in the NBA playoffs four years in a row from 1997 to 2000. The Knicks clinched three of those series while the Heat won one.

The last time they met was in the 2023 NBA playoffs’ Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Heat won in six games.

2025 NBA Rivals Week Schedule

Jan. 21:

New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m., TNT)

Karl-Anthony Towns led the New York Knicks to a 99-95 win over the Nets with his 25-point performance on Tuesday, January 21. Anthony’s 16 rebounds and 6 assists were followed by OG Anunoby’s 20 points, four rebounds and three assists.

On the Nets’ side, D’Angelo Russell came up with 23 points and added two rebounds and 10 assists to the team’s total of 95. Cameron Johnson chipped in 16 points while Tyrese Martin added 13 points to the total.

Philadelphia 76ers at Denver Nuggets (10 p.m., TNT)

The Nuggets recorded a blowout win as they took down the 76ers 144-109 in a thundering Rivals Week clash on Tuesday. Star center Nikola Jokic scored 27 points along with 13 rebounds and 10 assists, whereas Julian Strawther added 23 points with two rebounds and assists each.

On the other hand, Tyrese Maxey contributed 28 points with two rebounds and ten assists, followed by Guerschon Yabusele’s 22 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Jan. 22:

Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings (10 p.m., ESPN)

Jan. 23:

Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (7:30 p.m., TNT)

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)

Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks (5:30 p.m., ABC)

Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors (8:30 p.m., ABC)

(All times are ET)

2025 NBA Rivals Week

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.