What is Rivals Week? New NBA schedule feature highlights Celtics vs. Lakers and other marquee matchups

Kyle Irving

What is Rivals Week? New NBA schedule feature highlights Celtics vs. Lakers and other marquee matchups image

When the NBA announced its schedule back in August, it revealed the debut of "Rivals Week" for the 2022-23 season.

In addition to the typical marquee days of the NBA schedule like Opening Night, NBA Christmas Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the NBA is attempting to put an emphasis on the league's rivalries — both old and new.

But what is Rivals Week and when will it take place during the NBA season? The Sporting News has you covered with answers to those questions below.

Draymond Green and Ja Morant
(Getty Images)

What is NBA Rivals Week?

Rivals Week will debut during the 2022-23 season, with the NBA keying in on classic and budding rivalries around the league.

Historic rivalries like Celtics versus Lakers will, of course, be on display, but so will newly established rivalries like the Warriors and Grizzlies.

Rivalry Week will span over five days with games being nationally broadcast across four networks in the United States: TNT, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV.

When is NBA Rivals Week?

Rivals Week will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 24 and run through Saturday, Jan. 28.

TNT will kick off Rivals Week with a Tuesday doubleheader and ABC will close Rivals Week with an exclusive tripleheader on Saturday.

You can find the full schedule for Rivals Week below.

NBA Rivals Week schedule

Rivals Week will start with a doubleheader on TNT on Tuesday. It will continue on Wednesday with another doubleheader on ESPN, followed by a third doubleheader on TNT on Thursday.

NBA TV will broadcast two Rivals Week games on Friday, and the week will wrap up with an action-packed tripleheader on ABC on Saturday.

Viewers in the United States can stream NBA Rivals Week on Sling TV. Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2022-23 NBA season on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Stream Sling Orange for $20 in your first month to catch all regular season games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.

SIGN UP FOR SLING TV: English | Spanish

DateMatchupTime (ET)TV channel
Tuesday, Jan. 24Celtics at Heat7:30 p.m.TNT
Tuesday, Jan. 24Clippers at Lakers10 p.m.TNT
Wednesday, Jan. 25Nets at 76ers7:30 p.m.ESPN
Wednesday, Jan. 25Grizzlies at Warriors10 p.m.ESPN
Thursday, Jan. 26Knicks at Celtics7:30 p.m.TNT
Thursday, Jan. 26Mavericks at Suns10 p.m.TNT
Friday, Jan. 27Grizzlies at Timberwolves7:30 p.m.NBA TV
Friday, Jan. 27Raptors at Warriors10 p.m.NBA TV
Saturday, Jan. 28Nuggets at 76ers3 p.m.ABC
Saturday, Jan. 28Knicks at Nets5:30 p.m.ABC
Saturday, Jan. 28Lakers at Celtics8:30 p.m.ABC

Kyle Irving

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.