The NBA season is off to a solid start in the ratings.
Clippers-Warriors averaged a 1.4 rating and 2.26 million viewers on the NBA on TNT Thursday, ranking second among Opening Week games thus far (six telecasts). The Clippers have played in the top two, their Tuesday matchup with the Lakers owning the top spot (2.2, 3.58M).
Ratings and viewership fell 32% from Lakers-Blazers last year, which marked LeBron James’ Laker debut (2.1, 3.31M). Compared to 2017 (Clippers-Lakers), ratings increased a tick and viewership was virtually flat.
L.A.’s rout was one of two games to decline in the season’s first three days, joining Pelicans-Raptors on Tuesday. The other four each increased over last year, despite Opening Week coinciding with the World Series for the first time since 2016.
Earlier in the night, Bucks-Rockets drew a 1.2 (+20%) and 1.94 million (+25%). Celtics-Sixers had a 1.1 (+10%) and 1.70 million (+9%) and Nuggets-Blazers a 0.9 (+13%) and 1.35 million (+12%) on ESPN Wednesday. Tuesday’s aforementioned Lakers-Clippers game was up 29% and 32% respectively.
It should be noted that five of the six windows declined from 2017.
Locally, Celtics-Sixers averaged an 8.0 rating in Philadelphia across ESPN (3.1) and NBC Sports Philadelphia (4.9). The latter network scored its highest season opening rating since 2003.
Elsewhere, Wednesday’s Grizzlies-Heat game averaged a 3.3 on Sun Sports in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, the Heat’s highest rated opener since 2016.
[Nielsen estimates from Programming Insider 10.24, 10.25; Philly Voice 10.25, Miami Herald 10.25]
