Ratings: NBA, NHL, College hoops, Golf

Celtics-Bucks averaged a 0.85 rating and 1.28 million viewers on the NBA on TNT Thursday night, up 12% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (Celtics-Heat: 0.8, 1.17M), but down 27% and 29% respectively from 2018 (Cavaliers-Raptors: 1.2, 1.79M).

Milwaukee’s blowout win was an exception to what has been a slow start to the new year. Later in the night, Nuggets-Warriors averaged a 0.6 an 873,000 — down 40% in both measures from last year (Thunder-Spurs: 1.0, 1.45M) and down 40% and 45% respectively from 2018 (Spurs-Lakers: 1.0, 1.57M).

On Wednesday night, Nets-Sixers averaged a 0.6 (-45%) and 934,000 (-46%) and Blazers-Rockets a 0.8 (-20%) and 1.13 million (-23%) on ESPN.

Flyers-Blues averaged a 0.24 rating and 405,000 viewers on the latest edition of NHL Wednesday Night Hockey on NBCSN, down a tick in ratings but up 1% in viewership from last year (Bruins-Flyers: 0.25, 402K). Compared to Canadiens-Bruins two years ago, viewership fell 11% from 454,000.

In other action, Lightning-Wild averaged 218,000 on Thursday night (+35%) and Wild-Penguins 190,000 on Tuesday (-8%).

Clemson’s upset of Duke averaged a 0.8 rating and 1.14 million viewers on the latest edition of ESPN’s Super Tuesday, up 20% in ratings and 8% in viewership from last year (Kentucky-Georgia: 0.6, 1.06M) and up 60% and 56% respectively from 2018 (Wisconsin-Purdue: 0.48, 727K).

The Kansas-Oklahoma nightcap drew a 0.6 (-13%) and 979,000 (-8%).

Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Sony Open averaged 282,000 viewers on Golf Channel last Sunday, down 49% from last year (545K) and down 46% from 2018 (524K). With the day’s NFL playoff games starting two hours later than in previous years, the telecast overlapped with the competing Seahawks-Packers game for nearly its entire duration.