A pair of Eastern Conference series were the exceptions to a down weekend for the NBA Playoffs on cable.
Game 4 of the Cavaliers/Pistons NBA playoff series drew 4.5 million viewers on TNT Sunday night, up 20% from Rockets/Mavericks last year (3.8M) but down 5% from Rockets/Blazers in 2014 (4.7M). The Cavaliers’ series-clinching win earned the second-largest audience of the playoffs on cable (26 telecasts through Sunday).
Earlier in the evening, Hawks/Celtics Game 4 drew 3.1 million — up 30% from Raptors/Wizards last year (2.4M) but down 19% from Raptors/Nets in 2014 (3.8M).
Both series also posted gains on Friday night. Cavaliers/Pistons Game 3 had a 1.7 final rating and 2.7 million viewers on ESPN, up 6% in ratings and 8% in viewership from Rockets/Mavericks last year (1.6, 2.5M) but down 6% and 4%, respectively, from Bulls/Wizards in 2014 (1.8, 2.8M). Airing concurrently on ESPN2, Hawks/Celtics Game 3 had a 0.6 (+50%) and 984,000 (+65%).
In other action, Spurs/Grizzlies Game 3 had a 1.7 and 2.7 million in Friday’s nightcap — down 23% in ratings and 21% in viewership from Clippers/Spurs last year (2.2, 3.4M) and down 26% in both measures from Rockets/Blazers in 2014 (2.3, 3.6M).
In Saturday’s nightcap, Clippers/Blazers Game 3 had 2.8 million on ESPN — up 7% from Grizzlies/Blazers last year (2.6M) but down 39% from Thunder/Grizzlies in 2014 (4.6M). It was the day’s only game to post an increase. Thunder/Mavericks Game 3 also had 2.8 million earlier in the night, but that was down 11% from Warriors/Pelicans last year (3.1M) and down 20% from Heat/Bobcats in 2014 (3.4M).
On TNT, Raptors/Pacers Game 4 (1.9M) and Heat/Hornets Game 3 (2.4M) declined 10% and 23%, respectively, from last year’s doubleheader of Hawks/Nets (2.1M) and Bulls/Bucks (3.2M).
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily [1], [2], Programming Insider)
