Weekday afternoon games have certainly hurt, but the first weekend of the NBA Playoffs was no ratings bonanza either.
Saturday’s Lakers-Blazers first round NBA playoff Game 3 averaged a 2.3 rating and 3.83 million viewers on ABC, marking the highest rated and most-watched game of the playoffs thus far. Ratings increased 53% and viewership 54% from Bucks-Pistons Game 3 in the same Saturday night window last year, which aired on ESPN (1.5, 2.48M).
Compared to ABC’s first playoff game last year, Clippers-Warriors Game 1 on a Saturday night, ratings fell 23% (from 3.0) and viewership 21% (from 4.83M). The Lakers’ win ranks as ABC’s least-watched playoff opener in five years (2015 Pelicans-Warriors: 3.49M), with the caveat that this year marked the first time since 2004 that it did not air a game on the opening day of the postseason.
Monday’s Game 4 averaged 2.98 million viewers on TNT, up 1% from Bucks-Pistons last year (2.81M).
As for the other L.A. series, Sunday’s Clippers-Mavericks Game 4 averaged a 2.1 and 3.31 million on ABC — down 45% in ratings and 47% in viewership from Warriors-Clippers last year (3.8, 6.29M). The game, which Dallas won at the buzzer on a game winner by Luka Dončić, aired opposite the competing Indy 500 on NBC (2.3, 3.67M).
Friday’s Game 3 had a 1.5 and 2.27 million on TNT, down a tick and 10% respectively from last year (Blazers-Thunder: 1.6, 2.52M).
Out East, Sunday’s clinching Celtics-Sixers Game 4 averaged a 1.5 and 2.23 million — down 38% and 42% respectively from last year (Celtics-Pacers: 2.4, 3.84M), and ABC’s lowest rated and least-watched playoff game ever. The previous lows were a 1.7 and 2.72 million for Celtics-Pacers Game 3 last year, a Friday night game that overlapped with competing games on ESPN.
Game 3 averaged a 1.2 and 1.81 million on TNT Friday evening, up 14% and 11% respectively from Raptors-Magic last year (1.1, 1.63M).
Rounding out the recent action, TNT averaged a 1.2 and 1.87 million for Nuggets-Jazz Game 4 Sunday night, down 48% in ratings and 50% in viewership from Blazers-Thunder last year (2.3, 3.74M). Game 3 on Friday afternoon averaged a 0.7 and 1.05 million.
Raptors-Nets Game 4 drew a 0.9 and 1.45 million on TNT earlier Sunday night, down 44% and 46% respectively from Raptors-Magic last year (1.6, 2.69M). Game 3 Friday afternoon averaged a 0.17 and 245,000 on NBA TV.
Pacers-Heat Game 3 scored a 1.1 and 1.61 million on TNT Saturday — down 21% in ratings and 25% in viewership from Sixers-Nets last year (1.4, 2.13M) — with Monday evening’s clinching Game 4 at 1.73 million. Bucks-Magic Game 3 had a 0.8 and 1.16 million on TNT Saturday, with Monday’s Game 4 matinee clocking in at just 289,000 on NBA TV.
Finally, Rockets-Thunder Game 3 averaged a 1.1 and 1.76 million on ESPN Saturday — down 39% and 37% respectively from Nuggets-Spurs last year (1.8, 2.78M) — followed by a Monday afternoon Game 4 at 1.19 million on TNT.
All comparisons come with the disclaimer that this year’s NBA Playoffs is taking place four months later than originally scheduled, during a time of year in which fewer televisions are in use, and with the majority of games airing in unusual weekday afternoon timeslots.
