The NBA is filled with memorable showdowns and thrilling rivalries that have shaped the league’s success.
These rivalries are featured in the NBA Rivals Week, where teams get to settle their score or open a fresh page in their basketball saga.
In 2025, the NBA Rivals Week will start on January 21st-25th, and the 10 rivalries featured will air live across ESPN, NBA TV, ABC, and TNT.
Here are five rivalries worth watching in this special week.
Top 5 Rivalries in the 2025 NBA Rivalry Week
From the Knicks facing the Brooklyn Nets to the Celtics against the Mavericks, as the Lakers Face the Warriors in the last game, the 2025 NBA Rivals Week promises 10 thrilling feuds.
Here are the top three rivalries worth watching and placing a bet.
Boston Celtics vs. L.A Lakers (23rd January)
The Boston Celtics will continue their storied rivalry against the Los Angeles Lakers on 23rd January 2025, delivering a memorable showdown. While this iconic rivalry stretches back to the era of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the Celtics are set to be a major challenge for the Lakers. The Celtics are currently on an upward trajectory and are among the best teams this season in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, the LA Lakers have experienced a mixed basket of performances in the 2024-2025 NBA season and are on the trail for a 46-36 season. That makes the Celtics the favorite for this rivalry fixture, and experts at SportyTrader US believe they will exploit LA’s interior defense and erratic perimeter to win this feud. However, the Lakers have acquired Dorian Finney-Smith to help with the perimeter.
New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets (21st January)
Located five miles from each other, the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks will always have some kind of animosity towards each other. The crosstown rivalry will kick off the 2025 NBA Rivals Week on 21st January, with the Knicks being the favorite after winning in their last two meetings.
The Knicks have shown huge potential this season, building chemistry among their starting five and revitalizing their defense. They also have an efficient offense led by Karl Antony Towns, and they are creating more synergy among their star players. Comparatively, the Brooklyn Nets have struggled to record wins this season after trading key players like Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schroder.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks (23rd January)
While the Heat and Bucks Eastern Conference rivalry is relatively new, it will be among the most exciting rivalries to watch in the 2025 NBA Rivals Week as both teams stand at 17-15 at the start of the year. The Miami Heat have been great this season, playing their patented solid defense and remaining among the top six.
The Milwaukee Bucks, on the other hand, have been among the biggest stories this season. The team has a hall-of-fame-worthy manager and a pair of superstars, although they struggled in the first half of the season. However, Doc Rivers’s side has significantly turned things around in their recent matches, although they seem evenly matched with Miami for this fixture.
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