In an NBA Playoffs otherwise marked by declining ratings, Warriors-Rockets is shaping up as the league’s strongest second round draw in years.
Saturday’s Warriors-Rockets NBA semifinal Game 3 earned a 4.4 rating and 7.23 million viewers on ABC, up 16% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (Raptors-Cavaliers: 3.8, 6.35M) and up 22% in both measures from 2017 (Warriors-Jazz: 3.6, 5.91M).
Excluding the NBA Finals, the Rockets’ overtime win ranks as ABC’s highest rated primetime playoff game since 2012 (Sixers-Celtics Game 7: 4.5) and its most-watched since 2011 (Heat-Celtics Game 3: 8.20M).
Game 4 on Monday night drew 6.88 million viewers on TNT, up 16% from last year (Raptors-Cavaliers: 5.94M) and up 52% from 2017 (Warriors-Jazz: 4.53M). Ratings were not immediately available.
Houston’s series-tying win was the most-watched first or second round playoff game on cable since 2012 (Heat-Pacers Game 6: 6.89M).
Games 3 and 4 rank as the second and third-most watched games of the postseason, behind only Game 1 of the series April 28 (7.26M). Golden State has played in the six most-watched games of the playoffs. The first four games of the Houston series rank among the top five.
In the key young adult demographics, Game 4 was Monday’s top television program in adults 18-34 (2.2), 18-49 (2.55) and 25-54 (2.8). Game 3 ranked first in 18-34 (1.9) but trailed the Kentucky Derby in the latter two demos (2.3 in 18-49; 2.6 in 25-54).
The other series have not fared as well. Sunday’s Raptors-Sixers Game 4 had a 3.0 and 4.63 million on ABC, down 9% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (Warriors-Pelicans: 3.3, 5.29M) and down 6% and 8% respectively from 2017 (Cavaliers-Raptors: 3.2, 5.04M).
All four games of the Raptors-Sixers series have declined.
Later Sunday, Nuggets-Blazers Game 4 had a 2.5 (-6%) and 4.06 million (-7%) on TNT. In Monday’s early window, Bucks-Celtics Game 4 had 3.72 million — up 9% from Celtics-Sixers last year (3.40M), with the caveat that the year-ago game began at 6 PM ET.
Of the 55 NBA playoff games that can be compared to last year, only 14 have posted an increase in viewership.
