Fansided

30 best personal rivalries in the NBA today

By John Buhler

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 18: Kevin Durant No. 35 of the Golden State Warriors and Russell Westbrook No. 0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder point in different directions after the ball went out of bounds at ORACLE Arena on January 18, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 18: Kevin Durant No. 35 of the Golden State Warriors and Russell Westbrook No. 0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder point in different directions after the ball went out of bounds at ORACLE Arena on January 18, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 31: Matthew Dellavedova No. 8 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball in the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Bradley Center on October 31, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 31: Matthew Dellavedova No. 8 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball in the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Bradley Center on October 31, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

22. Matthew Dellavedova vs. Al Horford

Nobody gets under everybody’s skin in the NBA quite like Matthew Dellavedova does. He was a great collegiate basketball player at St. Mary’s, but has to play with a certain scrapiness to stick in the NBA. Nicknamed Dirty Delly by Twitter, his biggest beef is with Al Horford of the Boston Celtics.

Though they play on different teams now, their beef began ages ago in the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals. Dellavedova was the backup point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers that was thrust into a starting role after the Kyrie Irvin injury. Horford was one of four All-Stars for the surprising 60-win Atlanta Hawks team.

Dellavedova forgot at one point in the game Eastern Conference Finals that he was playing basketball and not rugby. On a loose ball, he dove at Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver’s leg, breaking Korver’s ankle. You know who HATED that? Horford and what happened next was amazing.

Horford decided to retaliate and tried to go though Dellavedova like a member of Bills Mafia through a picnic table, pile-drive style. Yes, it was so awkward but the near 7-foot Dominican about capsized the 6-foot-nothing Aussie. Horford got ejected. Dellavedova’s Cavaliers won the Eastern Conference Finals. What happens if they meet in the playoffs again?

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