A pair of NBA Game 7s topped sports viewing for Sunday, May 19.
Sunday’s Timberwolves-Nuggets second round NBA playoff Game 7 averaged a 4.1 rating and 8.41 million viewers across TNT (3.7, 7.51M) and truTV (0.41, 905K), marking the largest first or second round NBA playoff audience ever on TNT Sports (with the caveat that out-of-home viewing was not included in Nielsen estimates until 2020).
Minnesota’s comeback win delivered the top sports audience of the day and largest of the NBA season. Denver, whose title defense ended Sunday night, played in four of the top five games.
Earlier in the day, Pacers-Knicks Game 7 drew a 3.4 and 6.45 million on ABC — down 11% and 24% respectively from Sixers-Celtics a year ago (3.9, 8.44M) and the least-watched second round Game 7 on ABC in five years. For more on NBA playoff viewership, including the postseason-to-date average, see this link.
The Pacers-Knicks game aired directly opposite final round coverage of the PGA Championship, which drew a 2.9 and 4.96 million — up 8% and 10% respectively from last year (2.6, 4.52) and the third-largest sports audience of the day. ESPN’s lead-in coverage had a 0.7 and 1.12 million, even with last year.
Further down the dial, the NASCAR All-Star Race from North Wilkesboro (N.C.) averaged a 1.4 and 2.57 million on FS1, the largest audience for the exhibition in three years. It led into taped NHRA at a 0.22 and 341,000. In other racing action, Indianapolis 500 qualifying drew a 0.7 and 1.15 million on NBC — up sharply from last year’s 0.56 and 842,000 — and the Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix chipped in a 0.46 and 861,000 on ESPN2, down from the last time the race was held two years ago.
Premier League Championship Sunday combined to average a 1.2 and 2.17 million across the Nielsen-rated NBC networks of NBC, USA, Golf Channel, CNBC, Telemundo and Universo, topped by a 0.67 and 1.17 million for West Ham-Manchester City across NBC (0.51, 847K) and Telemundo (0.17, 326K).
In the UFL, DC-St. Louis averaged a 0.6 and 1.06 million on ABC leading into Pacers-Knicks, the network’s top UFL audience thus far. FOX drew a 0.32 and 545,000 for Arlington-San Antonio later in the day.
Facing Timberwolves-Nuggets, ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball (Padres-Braves) slipped under the million mark with a 0.52 and 992,000 — down from Guardians-Mets a year ago (0.7, 1.16M).
Rounding out the day’s slate, CBS drew a 0.54 and 834,000 for Professional Bull Riding; NBC drew a 0.48 and 805,000 for an encore of Saturday’s U.S. Classic gymnastics competition — featuring Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas.
FSU-Auburn topped NCAA softball tournament action with a 0.31 and 566,000, the largest audience for the softball regionals in five years. The full slate of regionals averaged 258,000, up 6% from last year.
Sunday, May 19 sports ratings
