The Heat/Knicks and Thunder/Mavericks series have thus far been the only bright spots in a generally soft NBA postseason.
Game 3 of the Heat/Knicks NBA playoff series drew 4.132 million viewers on TNT Thursday night, up 7% from Heat/Sixers Game 3 last year (3.875M), and up 67% from Cavaliers/Bulls Game 3 opposite the NFL Draft in 2010 (2.763M).
Heat/Knicks is the only NBA playoff series to have had an increase in viewership for each game.
In the nightcap, Game 3 of the Thunder/Mavericks series drew 4.622 million viewers — up 41% from Mavericks/Trail Blazers Game 3 last year (3.268M), and up 18% from Lakers/Thunder Game 3 in 2010 (3.934M).
Of the seven most-viewed NBA playoff games this year, six have been from the Heat/Knicks or Thunder/Mavericks series. In addition, of the eight games to have increases compared to last year, five have been from either series.
Viewership For the 2012 NBA Playoffs
Excludes Pacers/Magic Game 3 on NBA TV
| Date | Time | Away | Home | # | Net |
Viewers (000)
|
vs. ’11
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/28/12 | 1:00 PM | Sixers | Bulls |
1
|
TNT |
2,475
|
-31%
|
| 3:30 PM | Knicks | Heat |
1
|
ABC |
4,752
|
+5%
|
|
| 7:00 PM | Magic | Pacers |
1
|
ESPN |
2,551
|
-23%
|
|
| 9:30 PM | Mavs | Thunder |
1
|
ESPN |
4,115
|
+19%
|
|
| Sun., 4/29/12 | 1:00 PM | Jazz | Spurs |
1
|
ESPN |
3,197
|
+13%
|
| 3:30 PM | Nuggets | Lakers |
1
|
ABC |
4,882
|
-18%
|
|
| 7:00 PM | Celtics | Hawks |
1
|
TNT |
3,971
|
-34%
|
|
| 9:30 PM | Clippers | Grizzlies |
1
|
TNT |
3,982
|
-21%
|
|
| Mon., 4/30/12 | 7:00 PM | Knicks | Heat |
2
|
TNT |
4,373
|
+29%
|
| 7:30 PM | Magic | Pacers |
2
|
NBATV |
144
|
none
|
|
| 9:30 PM | Mavs | Thunder |
2
|
TNT |
4,736
|
-4%
|
|
| Tue., 5/1/12 | 7:30 PM | Celtics | Hawks |
2
|
NBATV |
642
|
+134%
|
| 8:00 PM | Sixers | Bulls |
2
|
TNT |
3,108
|
-34%
|
|
| 10:30 PM | Nuggets | Lakers |
2
|
TNT |
3,931
|
2%
|
|
| Wed., 5/2/12 | 7:00 PM | Jazz | Spurs |
2
|
TNT |
1,811
|
-45%
|
| 9:30 PM | Clippers | Grizzlies |
2
|
TNT |
3,137
|
-41%
|
|
| Thu., 5/3/12 | 7:00 PM | Heat | Knicks |
3
|
TNT |
4,132
|
+7%
|
| 9:30 PM | Thunder | Mavs |
3
|
TNT |
4,622
|
+41%
|
(Thursday’s numbers from TV By the Numbers; additional information from Sports Business Daily; NBA TV numbers from Turner Sports)
