Ratings for Game 1 of the NBA Finals since 1986. Also included are some of the ratings from the 1984 and 1987 NBA Finals, which involved this year’s Finals participants, the Celtics and Lakers.
NBA Finals Game 1 ratings.
1986
9.9: Celtics 112, Rockets 100 (Mon., May 26, 3 PM CBS)
1987
13.8/23: Lakers 126, Celtics 113 (Tue., Jun. 2, CBS)
1988
13.9: Pistons 105, Lakers 93 (Tue., Jun. 7, 9 PM CBS)
1989
14.0: Pistons 109, Lakers 97 (Tue., Jun. 6, CBS)
1990
11.8/22: Pistons 105, Blazers 99 (Tue., Jun. 5, CBS)
1991
12.6: Lakers 93, Bulls 91 (Sun., Jun. 2, 3:30 PM NBC)
1992
13.5/25: Bulls 122, Blazers 89 (Wed., Jun. 3, 9 PM NBC)
1993
16.8/29: Bulls 100, Suns 92 (Wed., Jun. 9, 9 PM NBC)
1994
12.6/23: Rockets 85, Knicks 78 (Wed., Jun. 8, 9 PM NBC)
1995
14.7/26: Rockets 120, Magic 118 F/OT (Wed., Jun. 7, 9 PM NBC)
1996
16.8: Bulls 107, Sonics 90 (Wed., Jun. 5, 9 PM NBC)
1997
15.8/28: Bulls 84, Jazz 82 (Sun., Jun. 1, 7:30 PM NBC)
1998
18.0/32: Jazz 88, Bulls 85 F/OT (Wed., Jun. 3, 9 PM NBC)
1999
11.5/21: Spurs 89, Knicks 77 (Wed., Jun. 16, 9 PM NBC)
2000
10.5/18: Lakers 104, Pacers 87 (Wed., Jun. 7, 9 PM NBC)
2001
12.4/23: 76ers 107, Lakers 101 F/OT (Wed., Jun. 6, 9 PM NBC)
2002
10.6/20: Lakers 99, Nets 94 (Wed., Jun. 5, 9 PM NBC)
2003
6.4/11: Spurs 101, Nets 89 (Wed., Jun. 4, 8:30 PM ABC)
2004
9.8/17: Pistons 87, Lakers 75 (Sun., Jun. 6, 9 PM ABC)
2005
7.2/13: Spurs 84, Pistons 69 (Thu., Jun. 9, 9 PM ABC)
2006
7.8/14: Mavericks 90, Heat 80 (Thu., Jun. 8, 9 PM ABC)
2007
6.3/11: Spurs 85, Cavaliers 76 (Thu., Jun. 7, 9 PM ABC)
Ratings for previous Celtics/Lakers match-ups.
1984
12.8/24: Game 5
19.3/33: Game 7
Ratings for Games 1-4 and Game 6 are unavailable.
1985
Ratings unavailable.
1987
13.8/23: Game 1
18.9/31: Game 4
18.9/33: Game 5
17.3/43: Game 6
Ratings for Games 2 and 3 are unavailable.
