With the Cavaliers narrowly avoiding a 3-1 hole, Sunday’s nailbiter against Indiana scored cable’s best first round NBA playoff ratings in six years.
Sunday’s Cavaliers-Pacers NBA Playoffs Game 4 earned a 3.7 rating and 6.1 million viewers on TNT, up 54% in ratings and 53% in viewership from last year (Clippers-Jazz: 2.4, 4.0M) and up 34% and 35% respectively from 2016 (Cavs-Pistons: 2.8, 4.5M).
Cleveland’s narrow win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched first round playoff game on cable since 2012 (Nuggets-Lakers Game 7: 4.1, 6.5M).
Excluding clinching games, it was the top first round matchup on cable since 2011 (Lakers-Hornets Game 4: 3.9, 6.3M).
In the key young adult demographics, the game delivered a 2.6 rating in adults 18-49, a 2.6 in adults 18-34, and a 2.65 in adults 25-54 — topping all other television programs over the weekend.
Cavs-Pacers was the top game of a mostly down weekend for the NBA Playoffs. Earlier in the day, ABC had a 3.5 and 5.5 million for Game 4 of Warriors-Spurs, down 10% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (Rockets-Thunder: 3.9, 6.4M) and down 22% and 25% respectively from 2016 (4.5, 7.2M).
San Antonio’s win tied the lowest rating in that window on the second weekend of the playoffs since 2007 (Suns-Lakers: 3.3). It was the least-watched since 2009 (Cavs-Pistons: 5.4M).
Rounding out Sunday’s action, ABC earned a 2.5 (-14%) and 3.7 million (-17%) for Celtics-Bucks and TNT a 2.0 (-23%) and 3.2 million (-26%) for Raptors-Wizards.
On Saturday, TNT posted double-digit increases for its afternoon doubleheader. Sixers-Heat increased 23% in ratings (to 1.6) and 24% in viewership (to 2.4M), while Blazers-Pelicans rose 22% (to 1.95) and 24% (to 3.0M) respectively.
ESPN was a different story, with its primetime doubleheader down double-digits. Rockets-Timberwolves Game 3 had a 1.7 (-19%) and 2.8 million (-18%) and Thunder-Jazz a 2.1 (-19%) and 3.4 million (-23%). Including Friday’s games, seven of the 11 playoff windows this weekend declined.
