A thrilling Western Conference Finals rematch delivered TNT’s top NBA audience since the opening week of the season.
Thursday’s Rockets-Warriors NBA regular season game scored 2.39 million viewers on TNT, up 55% from last year (Thunder-Clippers: 1.54M) and up 73% from 2016 (Lakers-Blazers: 1.38M). Ratings were not immediately available.
Houston’s dramatic overtime win was the most-watched NBA game on TNT since Lakers-Blazers in the opening week of the season, LeBron James‘ Laker debut (3.31M).
Despite the strong numbers, viewership declined 17% from a matchup between the same two teams on the comparable night last year. That game aired in the early 8 PM ET window (2.87M).
Earlier in the night, Raptors-Spurs had 1.81 million — down 37% from last year’s aforementioned Warriors-Rockets game, but up 2% from 2016 (Thunder-Rockets: 1.78M). The game marked Raptors F Kawhi Leonard‘s return to San Antonio.
Shifting to Wednesday night, Thunder-Lakers had 1.77 million viewers on ESPN — down 9% from the same matchup last year (1.96M) and down 18% from 2016 (Blazers-Warriors: 2.16M). LeBron James missed the game due to injury.
Not counting a TNT game against Houston that was blacked out in Los Angeles, the Lakers’ loss was their least-watched game on ESPN/ABC or TNT this season.
T’Wolves-Celtics opened ESPN’s doubleheader with 1.48 million, down 53% from Cavaliers-Celtics last year (3.17M) and down 28% from Bulls-Cavaliers in 2016 (2.06M).
