There were a couple of bright spots, but the opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs could not overcome a spate of blowouts and the absence of the Golden State Warriors.
The opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs averaged a 2.0 rating and 3.77 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, TNT and truTV, down 8% in ratings and 9% in viewership from last year (2.2, 4.15M), which was the most-watched opening weekend since 2011 (4.32M).
Saturday’s Lakers-Nuggets Game 1 was the top game of the weekend (NBA or otherwise) with a 2.8 and 5.65 million on ABC, down 13% in ratings and 10% in viewership from Warriors-Kings last year (3.2, 6.56M), but still the second-largest audience on the opening Saturday of the playoffs since 1999. (As with any multi-year highs, keep in mind that out-of-home viewing was not tracked in Nielsen final nationals until 2020.)
Sixers-Knicks preceded with a 2.1 and 4.19 million on ESPN, up a tick in ratings and 7% in viewership from Knicks-Cavaliers last year (2.0, 3.91M) and the network’s top opening weekend playoff game since it resumed NBA coverage in the 2002-03 season. The previous high was 4.12 million for Mavericks-Thunder in 2012.
ESPN also drew a 1.7 and 3.12 million for the Timberwolves’ rout of the Suns, up 9% and 7% respectively from Hawks-Celtics a year ago (1.6, 2.93M), and a 1.2 (-8%) and 2.19 million (-10%) for the Cavaliers’ sleepy win over the Magic.
The Clippers’ rout of the Mavericks topped Sunday’s slate with a 2.6 and 4.66 million on ABC, down 11% in ratings and 16% in viewership from Lakers-Grizzlies last year (3.0, 5.54M), preceded by the Celtics’ rout of the Heat at a 2.2 and 3.78 million. There was no early ABC window last season, as Sunday marked the first time in the network’s 22-year run carrying the NBA that it has aired an opening weekend doubleheader.
Shifting to primetime, the Bucks’ rout of the Pacers averaged a combined 1.8 and 3.44 million across TNT (1.6, 3.05M) and truTV (0.21, 394K) — down a third and 32% respectively from Clippers-Suns on TNT alone last year (2.7, 5.04M).
The Pelicans-Thunder nightcap had a 1.8 and 3.25 million (TNT: 1.6, 2.85M; truTV: 0.23, 401K), up 20% and 24% respectively from Timberwolves-Nuggets a year ago (1.5, 2.62M).
NBA Playoffs opening weekend viewership under current TV deal
