NBA Rivals Week 2023: Top 5 most exciting matchups as league debuts new concept

#3 Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia 76ers (Jan. 28)

Two of the leading MVP contenders deserve a battle royale during NBA Rivals Week.

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.

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#2 LA Lakers vs Boston Celtics (Jan. 28)

NBA Rivals Week isn't complete without the LA Lakers battling the Boston Celtics.

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.

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#1 Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors (Jan. 25)

Steph Curry versus Ja Morant could be the biggest highlight of NBA Rivals Week.

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.