An NBA doubleheader featuring some of the league’s heavyweights earned solid numbers on TNT Thursday night.
TNT drew a 1.8 U.S. rating and 2.794 million viewers for the Heat’s win over the Magic Thursday night, up 29% in ratings and up 27% in viewership from last year (MIA/CLE: 1.4, 2.207M), but down 33% and 35%, respectively, from an NBA Finals rematch two years ago (LAL/BOS: 2.7, 4.311M).
Of the 82 NBA telecasts on TNT, ESPN and ABC this season, Thursday’s Heat/Magic game ranks fifteenth in viewership. The game drew lower numbers than the first two meetings between the Heat and Magic this season (3.774M on October 29 and 2.985M on November 24).
The Heat have played in eleven of the nineteen most-viewed NBA games this season. Of the eight remaining games, five had a Heat game as a lead-in.
One of those five was Thursday’s nightcap between the Spurs and Lakers. San Antonio’s close win drew a 1.9 U.S. rating and 3.039 million viewers.
(Ratings/viewership from TV By the Numbers)
