Ratings dropped double-digits for the latest edition of NBA Saturday Primetime.
Rockets-Warriors scored a 2.1 rating and 3.42 million viewers on NBA Saturday Primetime last weekend, down 16% in ratings and viewership from last year (Thunder-Warriors: 2.5, 4.05M), but up 40% in both measures from 2017 (Bulls-Cavaliers: 1.5, 2.44M).
Since Christmas Day, seven of eight NBA games on ABC have posted a decline in ratings and/or viewership.
For the season, Houston’s win ranks as the eighth-most watched NBA game on any network. Golden State has played in four of the top eight, more than any other team except the Lakers (also four).
Saturday’s game was an exception to what has otherwise been a decent start to the post-All-Star schedule.
On Tuesday night, Celtics-Raptors scored 1.25 million viewers on TNT — up 14% from last year (Wizards-Bucks: 1.09M) and up 16% from 2017 (Bucks-Cavaliers: 1.08M). The Thunder-Nuggets nightcap had 1.10 million, up 38% from last year (Clippers-Nuggets: 798K) but down 9% from ’17 (Pacers-Rockets: 1.20M). Ratings were not immediately available.
Last Friday, ESPN drew a 1.1 rating (+22%) and 1.73 million viewers (+26%) for Jazz-Thunder and a 0.9 (flat) and 1.47 million (+10%) for Spurs-Raptors.
Overall, five of the seven games on ESPN/ABC and TNT since the All-Star break have increased over last year.
