NBA Rivals week adds another layer of excitement to the NBA regular season. It’s a week dedicated to timeless and timely rivalries between the NBA’s best teams and players, and it’s not one to be missed.
The slate of games for the 2026 NBA Rivals Week is littered with potential playoff matchups and national spotlights from the league’s next generation of stars.
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Where to Watch NBA Rivals Week?
Fans can catch the NBA Rivals week on NBC, ESPN, ABC, Peacock and Amazon Prime. Here’s a quick view of where to tune in each day of NBA Rivals Week:
- Tuesday, Jan. 20: NBC & Peacock
- Wednesday, Jan. 21: ESPN
- Thursday, Jan. 22: Amazon Prime
- Friday, Jan 23: ABC
- Saturday, Jan. 24: ABC & Amazon Prime
NBA Rivals Week TV Schedule & Matchup Previews
Check out the NBA Rivals Week schedule right here, plus the top storylines to watch out for during the event.
Jump to: Jan. 20 | Jan. 21 | Jan. 22 | Jan. 23 | Jan. 24
Tuesday, January 20
San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets | 8:00 p.m. ET | Watch on NBC & Peacock
The Spurs and Rockets entered the season as two of the most exciting teams in the league. The Spurs field a young roster full of future stars in Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. But this team doesn’t have its eyes on the future—it has its eyes on right now.
The Spurs have eight players scoring in double figures, with Wembanyama leading the way. De’Aaron Fox is having a resurgence, averaging 20.5 points per game, while Castle is averaging 17.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists.
The Spurs sit 3rd in the Western Conference and have shown their mettle against the league’s best. They’re already 3-1 against the number one team in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and have wins over the Knicks, Celtics and Lakers over the last few weeks.
After missing time with a calf strain, Wembanyama has come back strong, scoring 30 points in four of their last 10 games.
With the signing of Kevin Durant, Houston jumped to clear title contender status after their successful season a year ago. At 23-14, their otherwise solid record is relegated to sixth best in the competitive Western Conference.
Durant has been exactly what Houston needs, averaging 26.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He gives this Rockets team one of the most consistent scoring threats in the league.
Amen Thompson is having another great year, especially of late. In his last 10 games, he’s averaging 22 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
This matchup pits San Antonio’s rapidly maturing young core against a Houston team built to win now. The Spurs’ balance and recent success against elite competition make them a dangerous opponent, but the Rockets’ home-court advantage and Kevin Durant’s steady scoring give Houston the edge if they control tempo.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets | 10:00 p.m. ET | Watch on NBC & Peacock
We won’t get the peak of what this matchup could be with Nikola Jokic sidelined until February. But even still, this is great matchup between two of the West’s best.
Before his injury, Jokic was putting up another MVP-caliber season, averaging a triple-double with 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11 assists per game.
Even so, the Nuggets have been remarkably resilient, winning five of their last six games. They lead the league in scoring, field goal percentage and three-point percentage. At 28-13, they’re second in the Western Conference.
Jamal Murray has taken over the scoring and playmaking in Jokic’s absence. He posted 16 assists against the Nets, 17 against the Celtics and he’s dropped 30 points in his last two games. Denver will need Murray to continue to facilitate the offense as Jokic works his way back from injury.
On the other side, the Lakers are 24-14, which is good for fifth in the West. They have a top 10 offense but a bottom-10 defense. Luka Doncic, in his first full season with the Lakers, leads the league with 33.4 points per game. He’s also averaging 8.8 assists and nearly eight rebounds per game
LeBron James in year 21 is averaging 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists. The Lakers defense has been especially exposed without the scoring threat of Austin Reaves who continues to work his way back from a calf injury.
Even without Nikola Jokic, Denver’s depth, shooting and home-court advantage make them a tough matchup for a Lakers team still searching for defensive consistency. Los Angeles will lean heavily on Luka Dončić and LeBron James, but Denver’s physicality and perimeter offense could wear them down late. If the Nuggets dictate pace, they should be able to close this one out.
Wednesday January 21
Cleveland Cavaliers at Charlotte Hornets | 7:00 p.m. ET | Watch on ESPN
Currently sitting as the seven seed in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers haven’t been as sharp as just a year ago. They’re still digging out of a 3-7 stretch around Thanksgiving.
On the positive side, Donovan Mitchell is top five in the league in scoring, and Darius Garland has come back to give them another offensive spark. Evan Mobley, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, has been exceptional since returning from injury. A win against Charlotte could be another propellent toward turning this season around.
With Brandon Miller back, Charlotte is finally at full health, yet still they’re 12th in the East. There have been bright spots, though: Rookie Kon Knueppel has put forth a respectable Rookie of the Year campaign, averaging 21 points, five rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
Charlotte has a lot of young players that contribute. Miller is averaging 19 points per game as are Miles Bridgers and Knueppel. And LaMelo Ball leads the way at 20 per game.
Charlotte is one of the best rebounding teams in the league and they’re 11th in the league in offensive rating but in the bottom 10 of defensive rating.
Cleveland’s top-end talent and improving play on both ends give them a clear advantage over a young Charlotte roster that still has lots of upside but hasn’t shown sustained consistency.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks | 8:00 p.m. ET | Watch on ESPN
Oklahoma City jumped out to a 23-1 start. While it feels extreme to say they’ve fallen back down to earth, they haven’t been as sharp over their latest 24 games. Still, they’re the number one team in the NBA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is once again playing at an MVP-caliber level, and this is a young team that looks even more talented than they did a year ago when they won the NBA Finals.
Jalen Williams is finally back from injury though still trying to find his three-point shot. Chet Holmgren is having his best scoring season thus far, averaging 17.9 points on 57% shooting.
Milwaukee is in a much murkier place than the NBA-leading Thunder. They have one of the best players in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they’re 17-23 and out of the playoff picture as it stands now in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks are 22nd in offensive rating and 20th in defensive rating.
Adding to the noise around this season are more trade rumors surrounding Giannis as Milwaukee struggles to compete. Should he become available, he could turn the tide for any team that could afford him.
A pleasant surprise for Milwaukee this season has been the play of Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins. Porter is averaging 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds per game, while Rollins is averaging 16 points, five rebounds and four assists in his first year.
It’s quite possible Rivals Week could be one of the final games of Giannis in a Bucks jersey.
Oklahoma City’s league-best record and MVP-level play from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander make them a formidable test for a struggling Milwaukee squad still trying to find its footing around Giannis Antetokounmpo and supporting pieces.
Thursday January 22
Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks | 7:30 p.m. ET | Watch on Amazon Prime
The veteran Warriors currently sit at the eight seed in the Western Conference. What’s kept them in it is a top five defensive rating and Steph Curry, who’s averaging 28 points per game. Jimmy Butler, in his first full season with the Warriors, is averaging 19.8 points, six rebounds and five assists. Their rotation has six players averaging in double figures.
But the Warriors have a Jonathan Kuminga problem. He still has not found the consistent minutes he wants and has demanded a trade about a month out from the NBA trade deadline.
The Mavericks are in year one of the Cooper Flagg era and sit 12th in the Western Conference. Flagg has put together a stellar rookie campaign, averaging 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and 1.3 steals per game. He’ll still need to find his groove from three-point range, but the Mavs have to be happy with where he is to start the season.
What’s killed them is Anthony Davis’s lack of availability. He has been on the court for just half of the team’s games, though when he has played, he’s been effective, averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Dallas might once again find itself enmeshed in a blockbuster mid-season trade, as Anthony Davis is surrounded by trade rumors.
Golden State’s defensive consistency and veteran leadership give them a clear edge against a Dallas team still finding its footing in the Cooper Flagg era.
Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers | 9:30 p.m. ET | Watch on Amazon Prime
The Crosstown rivalry now looks more intriguing than it did at the beginning of the year.
The Clippers stumbled through the start the season, going 2-13 in the month of November and starting December with six losses. However, it’s been a completely different story since December 18th. They’re 11-2 in their last 13 games.
Kawhi Leonard has been exceptional, scoring 30-plus points eight times, including a 45-point game against Utah, a 41-point game against Houston and a 55-point performance against Detroit. He also leads the league with 2.2 steals per game.
The Clippers are loaded with veteran talent, and if they can stay healthy, they are a well-coached team that will create problems in a seven-game series. Over their last 15 games, the Clippers are ninth in defensive rating and third in offensive rating.
It’s been a different story for the Lakers, who are middle of the pack offensively and one of the league’s worst defensively over that same stretch. Still without Austin Reaves, the Lakers has not been able to replicate the level of scoring they had to start the year and create advantages that could paper over their defense.
This rivalry tilts toward the Clippers based on current form, as Kawhi Leonard’s elite two-way play has fueled one of the league’s best stretches since mid-December.
Friday January 23
Houston Rockets at Detroit Pistons | 7:00 p.m. ET | Watch on ABC
A rivalry of two franchises that met often in critical games in the 80s and 90s, the modern rivalry largely just centers around the Thompson twins—Amen Thompson for the Rockets and Ausar Thompson for the Pistons.
The Rockets have been just about as good as folks expected them to be. They’re right smack dab in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference. Kevin Durant has been the elite scoring threat this roster needed and Amen Thompson looks even better than a year ago.
Detroit has perhaps been the league’s biggest surprise. After making the playoffs last season following multiple losing seasons, the Pistons have jumped out to a 28-10 record, which is good for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.
Cade Cunningham has been exceptional, averaging 26.7 points, 9.7 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game. Cunningham has 20 double-doubles and four triple-doubles on the year.
Jalen Duren is enjoying a breakout campaign of his own, averaging 17.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Duncan Robinson has been a great shooting threat. Over their last 15 games, they’ve been the best defensive team in basketball and one of the league’s top-10 offenses.
Houston enters this matchup as a rising Western Conference contender, but Detroit’s emergence as the East’s top seed makes this a difficult road test.
Denver Nuggets at Milwaukee Bucks | 9:30 p.m. ET | Watch on ABC
At the start of this season, this would have looked like a heavyweight bout between Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it’s quite possible for this matchup that neither of them is suited up to play—Jokic because he’s dealing with an injury, and Giannis because he’s still at the center of trade rumors for the Bucks.
The Nuggets are second in the Western Conference and have held it down with Jokic out. They’re the league’s best offense, averaging 122 points per game and Jamal Murray has filled in well as the catalyst for this Denver offense.
In a hypercompetitive Western Conference, the Nuggets are miraculously still thriving without their MVP center.
The Bucks, on the other hand, do not seem to have it with this current roster construction, which is what is raising the questions about Giannis’s future. If the playoffs were to start now, the Bucks would not make the postseason. The franchise would yield a massive haul of draft picks and/or young players that would allow them the reset they desperately need. Giannis would get a chance to potentially play for a contender.
If the Nuggets dictate pace and execution, they should be able to capitalize on a Bucks team still searching for answers.
Saturday June 24
New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers | 3:00 p.m. ET | Watch on ABC
The Knicks entered this season as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference, and they’ve largely lived up to the bill at 25-15. They’re second in the Eastern Conference and on the year have a top 5 offense.
Jalen Brunson is averaging 28 points per game. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging a double-double at 21 points and 11 rebounds per game. However, over the last 15 games, the Knicks have been the worst defensive team in basketball. They will find themselves in a lot of long postseason series if they can’t find a way to turn their defense around.
The 76ers are enjoying a far more successful year than they have in the last few. Philly has six players averaging more than 13 points per game and find themselves smack dab in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Tyrese Maxey is having an All-Star caliber year. He’s third in the league, averaging 30 points per game after missing much of last year. He’s also top five in three-pointers made per game.
Joel Embiid has been relatively effective when he plays, and rookie VJ Edgecombe has made a strong case for his contention in the Rookie of the Year vote. Embiid still does not quite look like his dominant self, though he has looked better over his last 10 games, averaging 26 points and nearly eight rebounds per game.
New York’s offensive firepower makes them the more complete team on paper, but their recent defensive struggles open the door for a deep and balanced Philadelphia roster.
Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves | 5:30 p.m. ET | Watch on Amazon Prime
The Warriors and Timberwolves represent a rivalry of eras—the Warriors on their way out and the Timberwolves on their way up.
Minnesota bested Golden State in last year’s Western Conference semifinals, dispatching them with a gentleman’s sweep in 5 games. This season, they’ve got a top 10 offense and a top 10 defense.
Anthony Edwards became the third youngest player to reach 10,000 points in his career. At fourth in the Western Conference, and with Edwards once again taking another step forward, there’s all the reason in the world to believe that Minnesota is well-positioned for its third straight Western Conference championship appearance. Maybe this time they will break through into the NBA Finals.
Golden State continues to hover at the eight seed in the Western Conference. Steph Curry, in year 17, is averaging 28 points per game. Jimmy Butler has provided a steady offensive presence when Curry gets a breather. If this team can stay healthy, they have a chance to be a plucky pick in the playoffs.
Golden State will be a team to watch at the trade deadline, as Jonathan Kuminga has demanded a trade from the franchise while continuing to struggle to find consistent playing time. Golden State has been tied to the Maverick’s power forward Anthony Davis, which would wildly change the dynamic of Golden State’s roster and championship chances.
Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks | 8:30 p.m. ET | Watch on Amazon Prime
This is a rivalry born before the two teams even played a game. Luka Dončić once again returns to Dallas as the league’s leading scorer.
One person also not with Dallas after last year is the general manager who traded him. Nico Harrison was fired at the beginning of the season, and now the franchise finds itself at the bottom of the Western Conference standings as Luka leads the Lakers to the five seed.
On the other side, Cooper Flagg has looked every bit as good as promised. He’s averaging 18 points per game and is showing flashes on both ends of the floor. He’s struggling with his three-point shot but otherwise, he’s been stellar.
What doesn’t help Dallas is that Anthony Davis, who they traded Luka for, has appeared in just half of Dallas’s games. Though when he has played, he’s been effective, he is a name to watch heading into the trade deadline.
If Los Angeles manages the moment, this game favors the team that already found its footing after a blockbuster move.
What Is NBA Rivals Week?
Rivals Week is a relatively new initiative by the NBA to build up anticipation and excitement during the middle of the season, which tends to be less exciting than the beginning of the season and the NBA Playoffs. What better way to do that than giving fans back-to-back rivalry matchups to watch?
Over five days at the end of January, eleven of the biggest televised matchups are drawn from both long-time and newly formed rivalries within the league.
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Tune in to NBA Rivals Week from January 20-24 to watch some of the biggest rivalries in professional sports go head-to-head on the court.
And once Rivals Week ends, make sure the rest of NBA season is a slam dunk. Keep up with the NBA for less with DIRECTV’s MySports™ Genre Pack™.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NBA Rivals Week?
NBA Rivals Week is a week-long event that takes place in the middle of the basketball season, where all nationally televised games focus in on some of the top rivalries in the NBA.
When is NBA Rivals Week in 2026?
The fourth annual NBA Rivals Week will take place between Tuesday, January 20 and Saturday, January 24, 2026.
Where can I watch NBA Rivals Week games?
Rivalry matchups can be watched live on NBC, ESPN, ABC, Peacock and Amazon Prime
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