NBA playoff ratings are riding high entering the NBA Finals.
The 2018 NBA Playoffs has averaged 4.61 million viewers across ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV through the conference finals, up 18% from last year (3.91M), up 10% from 2016 (4.18M) and the highest average since 2012 (4.9M).
The Conference Finals averaged 9.02 million, up 40% from last year (6.42M) and the second-highest average for the round since 2002. 2012 holds the top spot.
The Warriors-Rockets Western Conference Finals averaged 9.4 million viewers on TNT, up 45% from Warriors-Spurs on ESPN/ABC last year but down 5% from Warriors-Thunder on TNT in 2016 (9.9M). It trailed only the 2016 series as the most-watched West Finals since 2002.
The Cavaliers-Celtics Eastern Conference Finals averaged 8.4 million on ESPN/ABC, up 34% from the same matchup on TNT last year (6.3M) and up 51% from Cavs-Raptors on ESPN in 2016 (5.6M). It was the most-watched East Finals since 2012, when Heat-Celtics averaged 10.1 million.
In addition to the most-watched conference finals in six years, the postseason also included the most-watched opening round in four.
Led by the two conference final game sevens — Warriors-Rockets (14.8M) and Cavs-Celtics (13.3M) — eight NBA playoff games have generated at least eight million viewers, the highest total before the finals since 2012 (nine). By comparison, just one game topped the eight million mark at the same point last year.
NBA Playoff Games With At Least Eight Million Viewers
