NBA Playoffs: 5.4 Overnight For Heat/Pacers Game 6

by Jon Lewis

14 years ago

NBA Playoffs: ABC’s Weekend Games Down From Last Year, But Heat/Pacers Does Well

Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (right) and Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (left) embrace following Philadelphia's victory in Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

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Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown, left, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers' VJ Edgecombe during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

NBA openers dip, but Sunday audience at Easter levels behind Wemby, NBC

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If off from last year's high, the NBA Playoffs got off to one of its better starts of late...

Comments 9

Rich S. says:

14 years ago

I think the NBA has to be fairly pleased with the ratings overall this season. Despite the mess of the lockout, the compressed schedule leading to some pretty unwatchable basketball at times, and the numerous injuries to star players, the regular season held up versus 2010-11, and the playoff numbers are pretty decent, if unsurprisingly down from last year.

Heat/Celtics should get some decent numbers, but I think the Finals will be down from the last two years. I’m supposing that Heat/Thunder would probably be the preferred match-up for ratings, as the Spurs have consistently shown themselves to be numbers killers.
- Andrea Cavalli says:
  
  14 years ago
  
  In my opinion Thunder/Heat would get higher ratings than last year’s in spite of OKC being one of the smallest markets out there. The media would play the good vs. evil card (which, to me, is so ridiculous and idiotic to a point it’s not even funny but that’s just me) and the casual fans would be drawn to that. Plus, Durant/Westbrook/LeBron/Wade etc. is pretty good and the star power would be bigger than 12 months ago. Spurs/Heat should do well, too, given the Heat drawing power, but, barring a game 7, I think the numbers would be down compared to last year.
  - JakeFrankie says:
    
    14 years ago
    
    If Miami is in the Finals (Which is probably going to happen), It will be the highest watched Spurs finals since 1999 for sure (Again assuming Spurs beat OKC). Yes Spurs are a bad ratings draw, But it wouldn’t matter if there facing Miami. I do agree Miami vs OKC is without a doubt the better draw, OKC is very small market team. But from what I have seen from OKC the past 2-3 years (They really have never been in a terrible ratings series so far).
    
    I do think the Finals will be in the 9.0’s-10.0’s again, If it doesn’t go to at least 6 games I expect in the 9.0’s. I don’t think it will surpass the 10.6 of 2010, But the 10.2 of 2011 is reachable.
    
    I want to hear what Paulsen thinks could happen.
    - Paulsen says:
      
      14 years ago
      
      Heat/Thunder would probably match last year’s numbers or even surpass them, as long as the games were close. Heat/Spurs would likely top out in the mid-high 9.0 range.
      
      Celtics/Thunder would probably average somewhere in the 8.0-8.5 range. Celtics/Spurs would likely fail to average even a 7.5.
      
      Personally, I think Celtics/Spurs is the most likely scenario.
Guest says:

14 years ago

On a somewhat unrelated note, why is Game 7 of the ECF scheduled for a Saturday night? With the Finals not set to begin until a Tuesday, I would think the NBA would want a Game 7 on the more ratings-friendly Sunday night. Can Sunday Night Baseball not be moved to ESPN2? Can ABC not televise any more games before the finals?
- Paulsen says:
  
  14 years ago
  
  Blame the lockout. Normally, the conference finals are scheduled to end on a Sunday and Monday, with Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.
Andrea Cavalli says:

14 years ago

Just imagine if there was a game 7..a few records would have more than likely been broken.

ABC was scheduled to air game 7 between Heat and Pacers. Now that the only g7 is gonna be Celtics/76ers, is ABC airing this game?
- Paulsen says:
  
  14 years ago
  
  Yes, ABC will air Sixers/Celtics on Saturday (8 PM ET). Had Heat/Pacers gone seven games, Sixers/Celtics would have aired at 5 PM on TNT.
  - JakeFra says:
    
    14 years ago
    
    I think Miami will make the NBA Finals, I don’t see the Sixers or Celtics beating them.
    
    But my question is how do you think the 2012 NBA Final ratings will be Heat vs Spurs/OKC. How high can it go? Do you expect it too be like last year, First 3-4 games in the 9.0’s, Then for it too keep going higher? What do you think?