The NBA has many famous rivalries, and depending on which website you read at any given time, you'll be presented with many, and loads of explanations as to why. So here's our snap shot, fast paced, easy read guide to what we consider to be the NBA's biggest betting rivalries...and why.
Atlanta Hawks v Boston Celtics - Bird v Wilkins (88) and 2016 Playoffs
Atlanta Hawks v Orlando Magic - Geographical and 2011 Playoffs
Atlanta Hawks v Cleveland Cavaliers - 2015 Eastern Conference Finals and 2016 Playoffs
Atlanta Hawks v Miami Heat - Geographical
Atlanta Hawks v New York Knicks - Young v Barrett
Atlanta Hawks v Philadelphia 76ers - Simmons v Embiid
Atlanta Hawks v Charlotte Hornets - Geographical
Atlanta Hawks v Washington Wizards - Geographical
Boston Celtics v Cleveland Cavaliers - 2008 Playoffs
Boston Celtics v Milwaukee Bucks - 70s and 80s, Eastern Conference top dogs
Boston Celtics v Detroit Pistons - 80s and 1987 Conference Finals, 2002 and 2008 Playoffs
Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers - Russell v Chamberlain, 1980s Playoffs
Boston Celtics v LA Lakers - 32 titles in 63 seasons combined, 11 Championship Finals
Boston Celtics v Atlanta Hawks - Bird v Wilkins (88) and 2016 Playoffs
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Geographical, NY v NE
Boston Celtics v Miami Heat - East Coast rivals, Playoffs
Boston Celtics v Orlando Magic - 2009 and 2010 Eastern Conference Semis
Boston Celtics v Utah Jazz - Jefferson v Garnett
Boston Celtics v Washington Wizards - 2017 Playoffs, Isiah Thomas
Brooklyn Nets v New York Knicks - Geographical, City rivals
Brooklyn Nets v Toronto Raptors - Divisional, Vince Carter
Brooklyn Nets v LA Lakers - LeBron James record v Nets
Brooklyn Nets v Boston Celtics - Geographical, NY v NE
Brooklyn Nets v Dallas Mavericks - Mark Cuban
Charlotte Hornets v Atlanta Hawks - Geographical, City Rivals
Charlotte Hornets v Miami Heat - Geographical
Charlotte Hornets v Orlando Magic - Geographical, and Super Tankers
Charlotte Hornets v Washington Wizards - Geographical
Chicago Bulls v Cleveland Cavaliers - Geographical and Playoffs
Chicago Bulls v Detroit Pistons - 88 Playoffs, 1991 Sweep and Pistons walk off
Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat - 1990s Playoffs, 2013 Snapping of Heats 27 game win streak
Chicago Bulls v New York Knicks - Windy City v Big Apple, Jordan v Ewing
Chicago Bulls v Indiana Pacers - Divisional, multiple Playoffs
Chicago Bulls v Milwaukee Bucks - Geographical
Chicago Bulls v New Orleans Pelicans - Lonzo Ball
Chicago Bulls v Orlando Magic - Jordan v Shaq
Chicago Bulls v Phoenix Suns - 1970s Divisional rivals, Jordan v Barkley 1992
Cleveland Cavaliers v Atlanta Hawks - 2015 Eastern Conference Finals and 2016 Playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics - 2008 Playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers v Chicago Bulls - Geographical and Playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers v Washington Wizards - 2006-2008 Playoffs. Jay-Z
Cleveland Cavaliers v Golden State Warriors - 4 Straight Finals 2015-2018
Cleveland Cavaliers v Detroit Pistons - LeBron's rise
Dallas Mavericks v LA Lakers - Conference, Playoffs
Dallas Mavericks v Oklahoma City Thunder - 2012 and 2013 Playoffs
Dallas Mavericks v Houston Rockets - Geographical, the i45 Rivalry
Dallas Mavericks v Miami Heat - 2006 and 2011 Finals
Dallas Mavericks v San Antonio Spurs - Geographical, Playoffs
Denver Nuggets v Phoenix Suns - Divisional
Denver Nuggets v LA Lakers - Playoffs
Denver Nuggets v Utah Jazz - Rocky Mountain Rivals, 4 Playoff series'
Denver Nuggets v San Antonio Spurs - ABA Rivals, most games played between 2 teams
Detroit Pistons v Chicago Bulls - 88 Playoffs, 1991 Sweep and Pistons walk off
Detroit Pistons v Boston Celtics - 80s and 1987 Conference Finals, 2002 and 2008 Playoffs
Detroit Pistons v Indiana Pacers - Geographical
Detroit Pistons v Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron's rise
Detroit Pistons v LA Lakers - 1980s back to back Finals
Golden State Warriors v Oklahoma City Thunder - 2016 Western Conference Finals
Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Clippers - Geography and 2014 Playoffs
Golden State Warriors v Cleveland Cavaliers - 4 Straight Finals 2015-2018
Golden State Warriors v San Antonio Spurs - Playoffs
Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets - 2015-2019 Playoffs
Golden State Warriors v LA Lakers - Geography
Golden State Warriors v Minnesota Timberwolves- Steph
Golden State Warriors v Philadelphia 76ers - City swaps and the 67 Finals
Golden State Warriors v Sacramento Kings - Geographical
Houston Rockets v Dallas Mavericks - Geographical, the i45 Rivalry
Houston Rockets v Golden State Warriors - 2015-2019 Playoffs
Houston Rockets v San Antonio Spurs - Geography, T-Mac 2004
Houston Rockets v LA Lakers - 1986 Playoffs "Showtime Lakers", multiple playoffs since
Houston Rockets v Utah Jazz - 1990s Playoffs
Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Clippers - 2018 Post game locker room brawl
Houston Rockets v New Orleans Pelicans - Gulf rivalry
Houston Rockets v Phoenix Suns - 1994 and 1995 Playoffs
Indiana Pacers v New York Knicks - 1990s and Miller's 8 in 9
Indiana Pacers v Detroit Pistons - Geographical
Indiana Pacers v Chicago Bulls - Divisional, multiple Playoffs
Indiana Pacers v Miami Heat - Lebron v George, Playoffs
Indiana Pacers v Toronto Raptors - Conference battles
Indiana Pacers v Philadelphia 76ers - 99-01 Playoffs
Los Angeles Clippers v Golden State Warriors - Geography and 2014 Playoffs
Los Angeles Clippers v LA Lakers - Geography, City rivals, Hallway Series
Los Angeles Clippers v Oklahoma City Thunder - 2014 Playoffs
Los Angeles Clippers v Memphis Grizzlies - Playoffs
Los Angeles Clippers v Houston Rockets - 2018 Post game locker room brawl
LA Lakers v Boston Celtics - 32 titles in 63 seasons combined, 11 Championship Finals
LA Lakers v Los Angeles Clippers- Geography, City rivals, Hallway Series
LA Lakers v Houston Rockets - 1986 Playoffs "Showtime Lakers", multiple playoffs since
LA Lakers v Dallas Mavericks - Conference, Playoffs
LA Lakers v Golden State Warriors - Geography
LA Lakers v Denver Nuggets- Playoffs
LA Lakers v San Antonio Spurs - Dominating Finals in late 1990s and early 2000s
LA Lakers v Detroit Pistons - 1980s back to back Finals
LA Lakers v Philadelphia 76ers - Six finals match ups
LA Lakers v New York Knicks - Ultimate East v West, Five finals
LA Lakers v Milwaukee Bucks - Playoffs, Kareen Abdul-Jabbar
LA Lakers v Oklahoma City Thunder - Kobe turning up the dial, Playoffs
LA Lakers v Phoenix Suns - California v Arizona
LA Lakers v Sacramento Kings - 2000s Playoffs and Conference Finals
LA Lakers v Utah Jazz - Jazz fans hatred of everything Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies v Los Angeles Clippers - Playoffs
Memphis Grizzlies v San Antonio Spurs - Playoffs
Memphis Grizzlies v Oklahoma City Thunder - Lots of Playoff history
Memphis Grizzlies v Minnesota Timberwolves - Western Conference, 2021 playoffs
Memphis Grizzlies v New Orleans Pelicans - Zion v Ja Morant
Miami Heat v Atlanta Hawks - Geographical
Miami Heat v Indiana Pacers - Lebron v George, Playoffs
Miami Heat v Dallas Mavericks - 2006 and 2011 Finals
Miami Heat v Charlotte Hornets - Geographical
Miami Heat v Orlando Magic - Sunshine State Rivalry
Miami Heat v New York Knicks - Playoffs
Miami Heat v Boston Celtics- East Coast rivals, Playoffs
Milwaukee Bucks v Chicago Bulls - Geographical
Milwaukee Bucks v Toronto Raptors - Playoffs, Geographical
Milwaukee Bucks v LA Lakers - Playoffs, Kareen Abdul-Jabbar
Milwaukee Bucks v Boston Celtics- 70s and 80s, Eastern Conference top dogs
Milwaukee Bucks v Philadelphia 76ers - Nine Playoff series', Iverson v Allen
Milwaukee Bucks v Phoenix Suns - 69 Draft Coin Flip for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Minnesota Timberwolves v Golden State Warriors - Steph
Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder - Divisional
Minnesota Timberwolves v Sacramento Kings - Brothers in Anguish
Minnesota Timberwolves v Denver Nuggets - Game 82 2017/18
Minnesota Timberwolves v Memphis Grizzlies - Western Conference, 2021 playoffs
Minnesota Timberwolves v Utah Jazz - Conference foes
New Orleans Pelicans v Phoenix Suns - Zion's windmill
New Orleans Pelicans v Memphis Grizzlies - Zion v Ja Morant
New Orleans Pelicans v Chicago Bulls - Lonzo Ball
New Orleans Pelicans v Houston Rockets - Gulf rivalry
New York Knicks v Atlanta Hawks - Young v Barrett
New York Knicks v Brooklyn Nets - Geographical, City rivals
New York Knicks v Miami Heat - Playoffs
New York Knicks v Chicago Bulls - Windy City v Big Apple, Jordan v Ewing
New York Knicks v LA Lakers - Ultimate East v West, Five finals
New York Knicks v Indiana Pacers - 1990s and Miller's 8 in 9
New York Knicks v Washington Wizards - Baltimore Bullets
New York Knicks v Toronto Raptors - 2001 Playoffs, Toronto "killing" NYK
Oklahoma City Thunder v Minnesota Timberwolves - Divisional
Oklahoma City Thunder v San Antonio Spurs - Similar trajectories
Oklahoma City Thunder v Dallas Mavericks - 2012 and 2013 Playoffs
Oklahoma City Thunder v Utah Jazz - Conference rivals, Kevin Durant losing his cool
Oklahoma City Thunder v LA Lakers - Kobe turning up the dial, Playoffs
Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Clippers - 2014 Playoffs
Oklahoma City Thunder v Portland Trail Blazers - Old i5 Rivalry before Seattle Supersonics morphed into OKC
Orlando Magic v Atlanta Hawks - Geographical and 2011 Playoffs
Orlando Magic v Miami Heat - Sunshine State Rivalry
Orlando Magic v Charlotte Hornets - Geographical, and Super Tankers
Orlando Magic v Chicago Bulls - Jordan v Shaq
Orlando Magic v Boston Celtics - 2009 and 2010 Eastern Conference Semis
Orlando Magic v Philadelphia 76ers - Embiid v Banchero
Philadelphia 76ers v Milwaukee Bucks - Nine Playoff series', Iverson v Allen
Philadelphia 76ers v LA Lakers - Six Finals match ups
Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics - Russell v Chamberlain, 1980s Playoffs
Philadelphia 76ers v Golden State Warriors - City swaps and the 67 Finals
Philadelphia 76ers v Indiana Pacers - 99-01 Playoffs
Philadelphia 76ers v Toronto Raptors - Gasol v Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers v Atlanta Hawks - Simmons v Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers v Orlando Magic - Embiid v Banchero
Phoenix Suns v Denver Nuggets - Divisional
Phoenix Suns v New Orleans Pelicans - Zion's windmill
Phoenix Suns v LA Lakers - California v Arizona
Phoenix Suns v Milwaukee Bucks - 69 Draft Coin Flip for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Phoenix Suns v Chicago Bulls - 1970s Divisional rivals, Jordan v Barkley 1992
Phoenix Suns v Houston Rockets - 1994 and 1995 Playoffs
Phoenix Suns v San Antonio Spurs - Multiple Playoff meetings
Phoenix Suns v Sacramento Kings - Conference Rivals
Portland Trail Blazers v LA Lakers - West Coast "Beat LA" rivalry
Portland Trail Blazers v Denver Nuggets - Playoffs and Trade history
Portland Trail Blazers v Oklahoma City Thunder - Old i5 Rivalry before Seattle Supersonics morphed into OKC
Sacramento Kings v Minnesota Timberwolves - Brothers in Anguish
Sacramento Kings v LA Lakers - 2000s Playoffs and Conference Finals
Sacramento Kings v Golden State Warriors - Geographical
Sacramento Kings v Phoenix Suns - Conference Rivals
Sacramento Kings v Utah Jazz - 1990s and 2000s Playoffs
San Antonio Spurs v Dallas Mavericks v San Antonio Spurs - Geographical, Playoffs
San Antonio Spurs v LA Lakers v San Antonio Spurs - Dominating Finals in late 1990s and early 2000s
San Antonio Spurs v Oklahoma City Thunder - Similar trajectories
San Antonio Spurs v Memphis Grizzlies - Playoffs
San Antonio Spurs v Denver Nuggets - ABA Rivals, most games played between 2 teams
San Antonio Spurs v Golden State Warriors - Playoffs
San Antonio Spurs v Phoenix Suns - Multiple Playoff meetings
San Antonio Spurs v Houston Rockets - Geography, T-Mac 2004
San Antonio Spurs v Utah Jazz - 1990s Playoffs
Toronto Raptors v Brooklyn Nets - Divisional, Vince Carter
Toronto Raptors v Indiana Pacers - Conference battles
Toronto Raptors v Milwaukee Bucks - Playoffs, Geographical
Toronto Raptors v New York Knicks - 2001 Playoffs, Toronto "killing" NYK
Toronto Raptors v Philadelphia 76ers - Gasol v Embiid
Toronto Raptors v Washington Wizards - 2015 Playoffs, Drake
Utah Jazz v Denver Nuggets - Rocky Mountain Rivals, 4 Playoff series'
Utah Jazz v Houston Rockets - 1990s Playoffs
Utah Jazz v Oklahoma City Thunder - Conference rivals, Kevin Durant losing his cool
Utah Jazz v Sacramento Kings - 1990s and 2000s Playoffs
Utah Jazz v San Antonio Spurs - 1990s Playoffs
Utah Jazz v Minnesota Timberwolves - Conference foes
Utah Jazz v Boston Celtics - Jefferson v Garnett
Utah Jazz v LA Lakers - Jazz fans hatred of everything Lakers
Washington Wizards v Atlanta Hawks - Geographical
Washington Wizards v New York Knicks - Baltimore Bullets
Washington Wizards v Cleveland Cavaliers - 2006-2008 Playoffs. Jay-Z
Washington Wizards v Charlotte Hornets - Geographical
Washington Wizards v Toronto Raptors - 2015 Playoffs, Drake
Washington Wizards v Boston Celtics - 2017 Playoffs, Isiah Thomas
So there you have it, a big long list of the biggest NBA Rivalries for each team, and a succinct set of reasons why. So when these match-ups come up, bear in mind the way these teams feel about each other before you have a bet. Will the underdog team raise their game? Will the betting favourites aim to demolish their opponents? Will the Over/Under be hammered or will scrapping defences keep the game tight?
