The last regular season matchup of the Warriors and Lakers — and a likely preview of next week’s #9 vs. #10 Play-in game — delivered cable’s top NBA audience in weeks.
Tuesday’s Warriors-Lakers NBA regular season game averaged a combined 2.02 million viewers across TNT (1.65M) and truTV (370K), ranking as the most-watched NBA game on cable since Nuggets-Warriors on ESPN February 25 (2.20M) and the most-watched on TNT since Nuggets-Warriors on January 4 (2.10M).
Golden State’s win was the most-watched sporting event of the day. The Celtics-Bucks lead-in placed second with a combined 1.17 million (TNT: 989K; truTV: 179K).
The NHL also hit a multi-week high Tuesday as ESPN drew 635,000 for Capitals-Red Wings — the most-watched game on cable Bruins-Penguins on January 4 (846K). Viewership increased 85% from Maple Leafs-Lightning on the same night last year (343K). The Wild-Avalanche nightcap drew 350,000, down 10% from Oilers-Avalanche a year ago (388K).
In UEFA Champions League action, CBS drew a 0.45 and 740,000 for Arsenal-Bayern and UniMas a 0.25 and 545,000 for the competing Real Madrid-Manchester City match.
In other soccer action, the United States-Canada SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match averaged a combined 677,000 across TBS (621K) and Universo (56K), preceded by Japan-Brazil at 157,000 (TBS: 132K; Universo: 25K).
Leading out of the USWNT match, TBS drew 229,000 for a Cubs-Padres Major League Baseball game — down from Padres-Mets last year (278K). Elsewhere in MLB, a Red Sox-Orioles matinee drew 215,000 on MLB Network and regional action drew 143,000 in primetime. Shifting to the college game, a Florida-Florida State college baseball game chipped in 102,000 and a competing Clemson-South Carolina college softball game drew 75,000 on ESPNU.
Tuesday, April 9 sports ratings
Updated chart:
Original chart below:
