What is the best NBA Finals rivalry?

Dynasties collided, stars traded shots, and a few series came down to a single possession. Longevity, drama and sheer quality all pull in different directions here.

1. 1
   Celtics vs. Lakers

   The league's signature rivalry, with 12 Finals meetings from Russell and West to Bird and Magic and Pierce and Kobe.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Bulls vs. Jazz

   Jordan's Bulls beat Karl Malone and John Stockton's Jazz in back-to-back Finals in 1997 and 1998, capped by The Last Shot.
   662pts
3. 3
   Rockets vs. Knicks

   The 1994 seven-game Finals matched Hakeem Olajuwon's Rockets against Patrick Ewing's Knicks.
   607pts
4. 4
   Celtics vs. Rockets

   Larry Bird's Celtics met Hakeem Olajuwon's Rockets in the Finals in 1981 and 1986.
   571pts
5. 5
   Lakers vs. Pistons

   Detroit's Bad Boys met Magic's Lakers in 1988 and 1989, and the 2004 Pistons stunned a Kobe-Shaq superteam.
   434pts
6. 6
   Warriors vs. Celtics

   The 2022 Finals brought a Steph Curry comeback and a Warriors title over Jayson Tatum's Celtics.
   434pts
7. 7
   Heat vs. Spurs

   Back-to-back Finals in 2013 and 2014 with a Game 6 classic, then a San Antonio revenge sweep of LeBron's Heat.
   310pts
8. 8
   Celtics vs. Hawks

   Bill Russell's Celtics faced Bob Pettit's St. Louis Hawks in the Finals in 1957, 1958, 1960 and 1961.
   310pts
9. 9
   Bulls vs. Trail Blazers

   The 1992 Finals, which produced Jordan's famous shrug game against Clyde Drexler's Blazers.
   310pts
10. 10
    Bulls vs. Suns

    The 1993 Finals ended with John Paxson's three-pointer as Jordan's Bulls beat Charles Barkley's Suns.
    310pts
11. 11
    Mavericks vs. Heat

    Miami won in 2006 after coming back from 0-2, and Dirk Nowitzki's Mavericks got revenge in 2011.
    233pts
12. 12
    Spurs vs. Pistons

    A grinding 2005 seven-game Finals decided by Robert Horry's Game 5 shot and a Game 7 win for San Antonio.
    233pts
13. 13
    Bulls vs. SuperSonics

    A 1996 Finals where Chicago's 72-win team beat Seattle's Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp in six games.
    145pts
14. 14
    Knicks vs. Lakers

    The 1970 and 1973 Finals pitted Walt Frazier and Willis Reed's Knicks against Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain's Lakers.
    145pts
15. 15
    Warriors vs. Cavaliers

    Four straight Finals from 2015 to 2018 between Stephen Curry's Warriors and LeBron James' Cavaliers.
    0pts

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