Ratings for the opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs since 1998. Ratings for cable networks (TNT, ESPN) are national ratings. Cable ratings, which measure the amount of people watching out of the amount of people with access to the network, are higher.
1998
Saturday, April 21
3.6/13: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers, Game 2, NBC (1:00 PM)
4.5/14: San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns, Game 2, NBC (3:30 PM)
Sunday, April 22
4.8/14: New York Knicks at Miami Heat, Game 2, NBC (12:30 PM)
6.0/15: Portland Trailblazers at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 2, NBC (3:00 PM)
8.6/18: New Jersey Nets at Chicago Bulls, Game 2, NBC (5:30 PM)
*Cable ratings unavailable.
1999
Saturday, May 8
3.7/13: New York Knicks at Miami Heat, Game 1, NBC (12:30 PM)
4.0/13: Phoenix Suns at Portland Trailblazers, Game 1, NBC (3:00 PM)
4.7/12: Sacramento Kings at Utah Jazz, Game 1, NBC (5:30 PM)
1.4/4: Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks, Game 1, TNT (8:30 PM)
Sunday, May 9
4.5/16: Philadelphia 76ers at Orlando Magic, Game 1, NBC (12:30 PM)
4.7/15: Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1, NBC (3:00 PM)
6.2/15: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 1, NBC (5:30 PM)
1.9/4: Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers, Game 1, TNT (8:30 PM)
2000
Saturday, April 22
3.8/10: Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat, Game 1, NBC (12:30 PM)
3.6/10: Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1, NBC (3:00 PM)
4.0/10: Seattle Supersonics at Utah Jazz, Game 1, NBC (5:30 PM)
1.4/3: Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets, Game 1, TNT (8:30 PM)
Sunday, April 23
4.7/15: Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks, Game 1, NBC (12:30 PM)
5.3/15: Minnesota Timberwolves at Portland Trailblazers, Game 1, NBC (3:00 PM)
6.2/15: Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 1, NBC (5:30 PM)
1.4/3: Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers, Game 1, TNT (8:30 PM)
2001
Saturday, April 21
2.6/8: Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers, Game 1, NBC (12:30 PM)
3.3/9: Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz, Game 1, NBC (3:00 PM)
3.7/9: Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1, NBC (5:30 PM)
1.0/2: Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat, Game 1, TNT (8:30 PM)
Sunday, April 22
3.2/9: Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks, Game 1, NBC (12:30 PM)
4.1/10: Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings, Game 1, NBC (3:00 PM)
5.5/12: Portland Trailblazers at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 1, NBC (5:30 PM)
N/A: Orlando Magic at Milwaukee Bucks, Game 1, TNT (8:30 PM)
2002
Saturday, April 20
2.4/7: Indiana Pacers at New Jersey Nets, Game 1, NBC (12:30 PM)
3.2/9: Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings, Game 1, NBC (3:00 PM)
3.6/9: Seattle Supersonics at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1, NBC (5:30 PM)
1.1/2: Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets, Game 1, TNT (8:30 PM)
Sunday, April 21
3.6/10: Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, Game 1, NBC (12:30 PM)
4.3/10: Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks, Game 1, NBC (3:00 PM)
5.9/11: Portland Trailblazers at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 1, NBC (5:30 PM)
1.4/7: Toronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons, Game 1, TNT (8:30 PM)
2003
Saturday, April 19
1.6/6: Milwaukee Bucks at New Jersey Nets, Game 1, ESPN (12:30 PM)
1.8/6: Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers, Game 1, ESPN (3:00 PM)
1.9/5: Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1, ESPN (5:30 PM)
1.4/3: Portland Trailblazers at Dallas Mavericks, Game 1, TNT (8:00 PM)
1.7/4: Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings, Game 1, TNT (10:30 PM)
Sunday, April 20
1.9/7: Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons, Game 1, ESPN (1:00 PM)
4.1/12: Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves, Game 1, ABC (3:30 PM)
2.1/4: New Orleans Hornets at Philadelphia 76ers, Game 1, TNT (8:00 PM)
2004
Saturday, April 17
1.4/5: Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers, Game 1, ESPN (2:00 PM)
1.7/5: New York Knicks at New Jersey Nets, Game 1, ESPN (4:30 PM)
1.8/4: Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1, ESPN (8:00 PM)
2.7/7: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 1, ESPN (10:30 PM)
Sunday, April 18
1.3/4: Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons, Game 1, ESPN (1:00 PM)
3.0/8: Dallas Mavericks at Sacramento Kings, Game 1, ABC (3:30 PM)
1.5/3: New Orleans Hornets at Miami Heat, Game 1, TNT (7:00 PM)
2.1/5: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves, Game 1, TNT (9:30 PM)
2005
Saturday, April 23
2.1/5: Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons, Game 1, ABC (3:00 PM)
2.0/5: Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks, Game 1, ESPN (5:30 PM)
1.7/4: Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics, Game 1, ESPN (8:00 PM)
1.5/4: Sacramento Kings at Seattle Supersonics, Game 1, ESPN (10:30 PM)
Sunday, April 24
3.1/7: New Jersey Nets at Miami Heat, Game 1, ABC (3:00 PM)
1.9/4: Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls, Game 1, TNT (5:30 PM)
2.3/4: Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1, TNT (8:00 PM)
1.6/4: Memphis Grizzlies at Phoenix Suns, Game 1, TNT (10:30 PM)
2006
Saturday, April 22
2.4/6: Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers, Game 1, ABC (3:00 PM)
1.4/4: Sacramento Kings at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1, ESPN (5:30 PM)
2.1/5: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat, Game 1, ESPN (8:00 PM)
1.7/4: Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers, Game 1, ESPN (10:30 PM)
Sunday, April 23
1.7/5: Indiana Pacers at New Jersey Nets, Game 1, TNT (1:00 PM)
3.4/8: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 1, ABC (3:00 PM)
1.9/4: Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons, Game 1, TNT (7:00 PM)
2.0/4: Memphis Grizzlies at Dallas Mavericks, Game 1, TNT (9:30 PM)
