Even with the Lakers, Celtics and Knicks on the sidelines, the first round of the NBA Playoffs earned near-record numbers on TNT.
The first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs averaged a 2.6 U.S. rating and 4.0 million viewers on TNT, up 13% in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year (2.3, 3.4M), up 4% and 6%, respectively, from 2012 (2.5, 3.8M), and the the second-highest rating and viewership for the first round on TNT or TBS since Turner Sports acquired rights in 1984.
Only the 2011 first round, which featured the Lakers, Celtics and Knicks, averaged better numbers (2.7, 4.2M).
TNT concluded first round coverage with an unprecedented Game 7 tripleheader Saturday. Game 7 of the Warriors/Clippers series earned a 3.6 U.S. rating and 6.0 million viewers, ranking as the fourth-most viewed first round game ever on cable. Only Bulls/Celtics Game 7 in 2009 (7.0M), Nuggets/Lakers in 2012 (6.5M) and Lakers/Hornets Game 4 in 2011 (6.3M) earned more viewers.
Earlier in the night, Grizzlies/Thunder Game 7 earned a 3.6 and 5.8 million — up 33% in ratings and 32% in viewership from Bulls/Nets last year (2.7, 4.4M), up 24% and 37%, respectively, from Game 1 of the Sixers/Celtics second round series in 2012 (2.9, 4.3M), and the seventh-most viewed first round game ever on cable.
Hawks/Pacers Game 7 rounded out the action with a 2.4 and 3.6 million viewers. The game, which aired opposite the Kentucky Derby, not surprisingly ranks as the lowest rated and least-viewed NBA Game 7 since Bucks/Hawks on ABC in 2010 (2.1, 3.1M).
Keep in mind that all first round games on TNT co-existed with local telecasts in the home market, with the exception of Indianapolis (Fox Sports Midwest did not produce its own telecasts for games airing on TNT or ESPN).
(First round averages from Turner Sports; Saturday numbers from Turner Sports/Bloomberg)
