NBA Playoffs: Thunder/Spurs Game 1 Third-Highest Rated Conference Final Opener Since ’02

Posted by | 05/30/2012 at 12:16 am

Though down from last year, the opening game of the Thunder/Spurs series earned strong numbers for TNT.

Game 1 of the Thunder/Spurs NBA Western Conference Finals drew a 4.8 U.S. rating and 7.764 million viewers on TNT Sunday night, down 23% in ratings and 30% in viewership from Heat/Bulls Game 1 last year (6.2, 11.109M), but up 9% and 10%, respectively, from Suns/Lakers Game 1 on a Monday night in 2010 (4.4, 7.112M).

Compared to Game 1 of last year’s Thunder/Mavericks series on ESPN (4.3, 6.982M), Sunday’s game increased by 12% in ratings and 11% in viewership.

Sunday’s game ranks as the third-highest rated Game 1 of a conference final since 2002, trailing only Heat/Bulls last year and Nuggets/Lakers Game 1 on ESPN in 2009 (5.0). That does not include Monday’s Celtics/Heat Game 1, as final numbers for that game were not yet available.

In addition, the game ranks as the highest rated conference final opener to involve the Spurs since Lakers/Spurs Game 1 on NBC in 2001 (6.0).

Highest Rated Game 1s of the NBA Conference Finals
Past decade
* Does not include Monday’s Celtics/Heat Game 1

(Sunday’s numbers from Turner Sports press release via The Futon Critic; Sports Business Daily)

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  • Timmah

    those are some wildly impressive numbers considering the markets that are in play. a potential spurs/heat finals has “ratings blockbuster” written all over it.

    • JakeFrankie

      For sure when you have the 36th biggest market Spurs vs the 44th biggest market OKC. Which is very funny since NBA is suppose to be the league dominated by big markets. Also the 44th Biggest Market team OKC is the bigger draw of the 2 teams playing in the WCF Finals. This series rating is incredible for the NBA, Take into account the 2002 WCF Lakers vs Kings series is one of the most memorable hyped series in NBA history, 2011 ECF Had the Heat there first season together vs the Chicago Bulls. Makes this ratings even more good for the NBA. 2009 WCF Lakers vs Nuggets (You got the Lakers carrying the ratings in that series) and 2002 ECF Nets vs Celtics was on NBC which is going to get some more viewers.

      The Big Market NBA (Where Small Markets Happen) -
      Knicks have not made a Finals since 1999, Haven’t pasted the first round since 2000.
      Chicago Bulls haven’t been to the Finals since 1998, Just have become relevant.
      Clippers are one of the worst teams in NBA History (If Not the worse)
      76ers who have not made a Finals since 2001.
      Wizards are the laughing stock of the NBA, Haven’t made a Finals since 1979.
      Warriors have won 1 playoff series in nearly 20 years.
      Houston Rockets which is a big market, Have pasted the 1st round 1 time in about 10 years lol.

      Just goes to show you to the people who think NBA is dominated by Big Markets LOL.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrea-Cavalli/757338131 Andrea Cavalli

        I’d also add to your post that not even Miami is a big market. Contrary to what some people may think, Miami is a middle-sized market, slightly bigger than Cleveland and smaller than markets like Minneapolis.

        Basically, the only “big” market in this year’s NBA Final Four is Boston.