NBA Rivalries 2026-27: Doncic Averages 37.7 PPG as 76ers Stun Celtics

Luka Doncic has averaged 37.7 points in three games against the Mavericks since being traded to the Lakers in 2025.

Luka Doncic has averaged 37.7 points per game in three matchups against the Dallas Mavericks since his 2025 blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers currently hold a 3-0 record in those contests against the 27-year-old’s former team. As the league enters the 2026-27 season, the Philadelphia 76ers have shifted the Eastern Conference landscape by overcoming a 3-1 first-round deficit to eliminate the Boston Celtics, marking their first postseason victory over Boston since 1982. Following that series, Philadelphia acquired former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown via trade and signed LeBron James in free agency, setting the stage for the NBA’s most frequent playoff matchup to resume after 23 all-time series.

Eastern Conference Power Shifts and Historical Duels

The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers leads the league with 23 total playoff series, surpassing the 15 meetings between the Knicks and Celtics. While Boston previously eliminated Philadelphia in 1985, 2002, 2012, 2018, 2020, and 2023, the 76ers' recent roster additions of Brown and James have intensified the conflict. James brings a personal history against Boston that includes playoff series in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2018. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have split 42 playoff games evenly, with each franchise recording 21 wins across seven series in the 21st century. These teams met in the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 postseasons, with four of those series occurring in the conference finals and three reaching seven games. Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined the Heat roster ahead of their scheduled Christmas afternoon game against Boston.

Individual Superstars and Statistical Dominance

Nikola Jokic has maintained a scoring average of 37.3 points per game across seven meetings with Victor Wembanyama, recording at least 40 points in each of their last three matchups. In an April overtime game, Wembanyama produced 34 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks, but Jokic secured the win with 40 points, 13 assists, and three blocks. Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren continue their rivalry as the San Antonio Spurs prepare to host the Oklahoma City Thunder on opening night. The Spurs recently eliminated the defending champion Thunder in Game 7 of the 2026 conference finals, despite Oklahoma City starting that season with a 24-1 record. Historically, these franchises have met in four competitive series since the move from Seattle, including the 2012 conference finals where the Thunder won four straight after trailing 2-0, and the 2016 second round where the Thunder beat a 67-win Spurs team that was 42-1 at home.

Rekindled Grudges and Ownership Conflicts

The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks have renewed their rivalry following the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals, where Indiana won Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. The Pacers followed this by upsetting the Knicks in the 2025 conference finals to reach the Finals, a series noted for Tyrese Haliburton’s choke sign gesture. This follows a historical period from 1993 to 2000 where the teams met six times in eight years. In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Denver Nuggets in both the 2024 and 2026 playoffs, with Jaden McDaniels labeling Denver players as "bad defenders" during the 2026 run. Off the court, Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert have not engaged in a trade since Ishbia purchased the Suns, with Gilbert providing the lone abstention in the board of governors' vote. The last transaction between the two franchises occurred in 2009, involving Shaquille O'Neal.

LeBron James, who turns 42 this season, and Stephen Curry, who turns 39, continue their decade-long rivalry that included four consecutive Finals matchups starting in 2015. Both players were All-Stars last season and recently won a gold medal as teammates at the 2024 Olympics. Finally, the Lakers and Celtics maintain their historical tie with 12 all-time playoff meetings, though they have only met twice in the postseason since the 1980s, with the most recent encounter occurring in 2010.