Despite a Game 3 blowout and the possibility of a sweep, Game 4 between the Warriors and Rockets delivered the top audience of the NBA Playoffs.
Game 4 of the Warriors/Rockets NBA Western Conference Finals drew a 5.0 rating and 8.3 million viewers on ESPN Monday night, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 14% in ratings and 18% in viewership from Pacers/Heat last year (4.4, 7.0M) and up 56% and 59%, respectively, from Spurs/Grizzlies in 2013 (3.2, 5.2M).
Compared to Spurs/Thunder Game 4 on TNT last year, ratings and viewership increased by 19% and 29%, respectively, from a 4.2 and 6.4 million.
The Rockets’ win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched game of the NBA Playoffs, topping the previous mark set the previous night by Hawks/Cavaliers Game 3 on TNT (4.7, 7.8M). It was the top playoff game in both measures, excluding the NBA Finals, since Pacers/Heat Game 7 in 2013 (7.1, 11.6M).
Game 4 also earned the largest audience for a Western Conference playoff game since Spurs/Thunder Game 6 in 2012 (6.0, 9.5M), and the third-largest since 2002 for a Western Conference game that did not involve the Lakers. Continuing the superlatives, it also drew the third-largest audience for the NBA on Memorial Day since 2004 — trailing only Celtics/Heat Game 1 in 2012 (9.0M) and Lakers/Nuggets Game 4 in 2009 (9.7M).
Saturday’s Game 3 drew a 3.6 and 5.7 million, down 12% in ratings and 17% in viewership from Pacers/Heat last year (4.1, 6.8M), and up 16% and 15%, respectively, from Spurs/Grizzlies in 2013 (3.1, 4.9M). Compared to Spurs/Thunder on a Sunday night last year, it declined 8% and 15%, respectively, from a 3.9 and 6.7 million.
(Mon. numbers from ESPN Media Zone)
