Opposite coverage of the NFL Draft, Thursday’s NBA playoff action sank on TNT.
Game 3 of the Heat/Bucks first round NBA playoff series drew 2.1 million viewers on TNT Thursday night, down 49% from Heat/Knicks Game 3 last year (4.1M), and down 45% from Heat/Sixers Game 3 in 2011 (3.9M). Neither of those games faced the NFL Draft.
Heat/Bucks earned the smallest TV audience of the playoffs on ESPN/ABC or TNT. The previous low was 2.2 million for Hawks/Pacers Game 1 last Sunday.
Later in the night, Clippers/Grizzlies Game 3 drew 2.6 million — down 44% from Thunder/Mavericks Game 3 last year (4.6M), and down 21% from Mavericks/Blazers in 2011 (3.3M).
The last time NBA playoff games aired opposite the NFL Draft (2011), Lakers/Hornets Game 6 drew 3.9 million viewers on TNT and Mavericks/Blazers drew 3.4 million.
(Thursday’s numbers from The Futon Critic)
