Cavs-Warriors ratings remain historically strong, but this year’s fourth straight meeting continues to show signs of viewer fatigue.
Sunday’s Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals Game 2 earned a 10.3 rating and 18.5 million viewers on ABC, per Nielsen fast-nationals — down 4% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (10.7, 19.7M) but up 5% and 6% respectively from 2016 (9.8, 17.5M), both of which featured the same matchup.
Golden State’s blowout win generated the third-largest Game 2 audience since 2001 (Sixers-Lakers: 18.7M). The top four are Cavs-Warriors games, with last year holding the top spot, 2015 second (19.2M) and 2016 fourth. Outside of Cavs-Warriors, no other Game 2 over that span has exceeded 16.7 million (Heat-Thunder in 2012).
It also posted the fourth-highest Game 2 rating since 2004 (Pistons-Lakers: 10.7), behind last year, 2015 (10.8) and 2012 (10.4).
Viewership peaked with 22.5 million from 10:15-10:30 PM ET, down 3% from last year’s peak (23.1M) but up 16% from the 2016 mark (19.4M).
Despite the strong numbers, it is clear that there is at least some viewer fatigue at play. Both Games 1 and 2 trailed all five games of last year’s finals. Sunday’s audience ranks just 15th out of the 20 Cleveland-Golden State games over the past four seasons (Thursday’s opener ranks 18th).
Even so, Cleveland-Golden State remains as strong an NBA Finals matchup as the league has seen since the event moved to ABC in 2003. Excluding series-clinchers, Game 2 was the 15th-most watched NBA game since ABC reacquired rights, with Cavs-Warriors accounting for 12 of the top 15.
Sunday’s game outperformed ABC’s Game 2 average — which includes such duds as Nets-Spurs in 2003 (8.1M) and Cavs-Spurs in 2007 (8.6M) — by 27 percent (18.5M to 14.5M).
Game 2 had a 6.5 rating in adults 18-49, down 8% from last year (7.1) and even with 2016. In adults 18-34, it drew a 5.6 — down 14% from last year (6.5), down 10% from 2016 (6.2) and the lowest since 2014 (Heat-Spurs: 5.5). Historical NBA Finals ratings (dating back to 1988) are available here.
Game 2 NBA Finals Ratings, Viewership
Past decade
