NBA playoff ratings have gone slightly cold after a hot start.
Wednesday’s Pacers-Cavaliers NBA Playoffs Game 2 had a 2.3 rating and 3.61 million viewers on TNT, flat in ratings and down 4% in viewership from last year (Thunder-Rockets: 2.3, 3.8M) but up a tick and 6% respectively from 2016 (Pistons-Cavs: 2.2, 3.4M).
Compared to Game 2 of the same series last year, which took place on a Monday night, ratings were flat and viewership increased 6% from 3.59 million.
Later in the night, Timberwolves-Rockets Game 2 had a 2.2 and 3.4 million — down 8% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (Blazers-Warriors: 2.4, 3.9M) but up 22% and 30% respectively from 2016 (Blazers-Clippers: 1.8, 2.6M).
After the first five NBA playoff windows each increased over last year, nine of the last 11 have declined. Having said that, eight of those nine have still increased over 2016.
Bucking the trend, NBA TV scored a 0.30 and 482,000 viewers (+3%) for Jazz-Thunder Game 2.
For the night, T’Wolves-Rockets tied for third among all television programs in adults 18-49. Its 1.5 in the demo matched NBC’s “The Voice” and trailed only “Survivor” on CBS (1.6) and “Empire” on FOX (1.8).
The game took top honors in adults 18-34 (1.5), edging second-place “Empire” (1.3).
[Wed. numbers from Programming Insider 4.19, ShowBuzz Daily 4.19]
