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NBA Rivals Week was a highly awaited concept when the league released its 2022-23 schedule back in August. Rivals Week is a five-day spectacle that will pit several teams who have had history with each other, one way or the other.
From Tuesday, Jan. 24 to Saturday, Jan. 28, a slate of mouthwatering games will be on national TV to hype up the NBA even more. Catching the action inside arenas will be the best way to consume the games, but they can also be enjoyed via ESPN, TNT, ABC and NBA TV.
On that note, here are five of the most interesting matchups that should keep basketball fans riveted during NBA Rivals Week:
#5 Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves (Jan. 27)
Heading into their matchup on Jan. 27, the visiting Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves are tied at 1-1 in their season series. The two teams had a very testy series in the first round of the playoffs last season.
The Timberwolves look vastly different from the team that the Grizzlies eliminated last postseason, but there’s always something to look forward to when they meet. Anytime Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards are on the same floor, fireworks are never far away.
Memphis is neck-and-neck with the Denver Nuggets for the best record in the Western Conference. They’ll be looking to keep up with Nikola Jokic’s team when they meet the Timberwolves. Minnesota, on the other hand, is desperately trying to get to the sixth spot to avoid the play-in.
#4 LA Clippers vs LA Lakers (Jan. 24)
This hasn’t been much of a rivalry over the past few years. The LA Clippers have been mopping the streets of Hollywood with their more illustrious fellow Crypto.com tenant, the LA Lakers.
Ty Lue, since taking over the head coaching job for Steve Ballmer’s team, hasn’t lost to the Jeanie Buss-owned franchise in nine games.
Last season, the LA Clippers didn’t have Kawhi Leonard for their four-game series with the Lakers and had Paul George in just two of them. They still went undefeated. The 2022-23 campaign hasn’t been different either.
LeBron James and crew have lost two straight in the “Hallway Series” of NBA Rivals Week.
#3 Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia 76ers (Jan. 28)
Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid going at each other is a sight everyone wants to see to cap off NBA Rivals Week. The two superstar big men have finished 1-2 in the MVP voting over the last two seasons, with “The Joker” edging “The Process” both times.
Jan. 28 will be the first meeting between the visiting Denver Nuggets and the Philadelphia 76ers. This season, both All-Star centers are making legitimate cases for the best player award.
Joel Embiid has averaged 22.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists versus Nikola Jokic in his career. The Serbian has countered with 21.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists per contest. Philly’s charismatic franchise leader holds a 4-2 edge in their head-to-head matchup.
#2 LA Lakers vs Boston Celtics (Jan. 28)
LeBron James’ inevitable march to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record passes through Beantown. The LA Lakers will try to avenge their 122-118 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics last Dec. 13 in Los Angeles.
LA and Boston, across different sports, have always been rivals. The NBA Rivals Week just wouldn’t be complete without a matchup between the league’s two flagship franchises.
Boston holds a 206-164 lead over LA in head-to-head encounters that include both the regular season and the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum’s dagger over LeBron James capped off a searing 17-4 run in the last 3:40 of the game to force overtime in their previous meeting. Jaylen Brown took over in extra time to stun the Lakers. James will be raring to get back at Boston’s young and exciting duo.
#1 Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors (Jan. 25)
Last Christmas, the much-anticipated rematch between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors didn’t disappoint. Even without Steph Curry, the Warriors still took down the favored Grizzlies.
Just like eight months ago, the Dec. 25 battle was intense and testy. Golden State was called for six technical fouls, with Jordan Poole eventually ejected in the fourth quarter. Still, the Bay Area team held off a nearly fully-healthy Grizzlies squad.
Memphis will be out for revenge in perhaps the most intriguing and hotly-contested matchup during NBA Rivals Week.
