Though the numbers were barely changed from last year, Game 3 of the NBA’s Western Conference Finals still managed a multi-year high.
Game 3 of the Warriors/Thunder NBA Western Conference Finals had a 4.7 final rating and 8.0 million viewers on TNT Sunday night, per Nielsen fast-nationals — flat in ratings and up 3% in viewership from Hawks/Cavaliers last year (4.7, 7.8M) and up 21% and 20%, respectively, from Spurs/Thunder in 2014 (3.9, 6.7M).
Compared to Game 3 of last year’s Warriors/Rockets WCF on ESPN, which aired on a low-rated Saturday night, ratings increased 31% from a 3.6 and viewership 41% from 5.7 million.
Oklahoma City’s blowout win, which peaked at a 5.6 and 9.5 million from 8:45-9 PM ET, was the most-watched Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals since Lakers/Suns in 2010 (8.6M) and the top such game regardless of conference since Bulls/Heat in 2011 (10.9M). It also tied the highest Game 3 rating over those respective spans, matching Hawks/Cavaliers last year and Spurs/Thunder in 2012.
Despite the now-customary multi-year highs, Game 3 was the first of the series that did not post a double-digit increase in ratings or viewership.
Through Sunday, the Warriors/Thunder series has averaged a 4.9 rating and 8.1 million viewers — up 14% in ratings and 17% in viewership from Cavaliers/Hawks last year (4.3, 6.9M) and the best three-game averages for a conference final on TNT since 2011.
(Sun. numbers from Turner Sports)
