After a weekend of declines, the start of the workweek brought better numbers for the NBA Playoffs.
Game 2 of the Pelicans/Warriors NBA playoff series drew 4.1 million viewers on TNT Monday night, up 30% from Warriors/Clippers last year (3.1M), up 31% from Grizzlies/Clippers in 2013 (3.1M), and the most-watched game of the playoffs on cable (11 telecasts through Tuesday).
The Warriors’ win was the first of just two playoff games on cable to have an increase in viewership.
The other, Game 2 of the Celtics/Cavaliers series, drew 3.3 million on Tuesday night — up 24% from Hawks/Pacers last year (2.7M) but down 1% from Celtics/Knicks in 2013 (3.4M).
In other action, Tuesday’s Mavericks/Rockets nightcap drew 3.7 million viewers — down 3% from Wizards/Bulls last year (3.8M) but up 29% from Warriors/Nuggets in 2013 (2.9M). Wizards/Raptors Game 2 drew just 233,000 viewers on NBA TV, down 49% from Nets/Raptors last year (459K) and down 70% from Bucks/Heat in 2013 (764K). Finally, Bucks/Bulls Game 2 drew 3.2 million on Monday night, down 23% from Grizzlies/Thunder last year (4.2M) but up 8% from Bulls/Nets in 2013 (3.0M).
(Mon./Tue. numbers via TV By the Numbers [1], [2]; NBA TV numbers from Sports TV Ratings)
