At a time when NBA teams are struggling to even field a roster, the league continues to hold up in the ratings.
NBA regular season games were averaging 1.59 million viewers across ESPN, ABC and TNT through last Wednesday, up 11% from the comparable period in 2019 (1.44M*).
Last Tuesday’s Warriors-Knicks game, in which Golden State G Stephen Curry set the all-time three-point shooting record, averaged a 1.4 rating and 2.35 million viewers on TNT — the fourth-largest audience of the season. Golden State has now played in each of the five most-watched games, six of the top seven and eight of the top ten.
Ratings and viewership actually declined 16% from the comparable Thursday night window in 2019, a Lakers-Bucks game that was considered an NBA Finals preview (1.7, 2.78M). The Suns-Blazers nightcap drew a 0.9 and 1.41 million, down 28% and 25% respectively from ’19 (Rockets-Clippers: 1.3, 1.88M).
The following night, the Lakers’ buzzer-beating win over the Mavericks drew a 1.1 and 1.88 million — up 61% in ratings and 76% in viewership from ’19 (Heat-Sixers: 0.7, 1.07M) — followed by Clippers-Jazz at a 0.8 (flat) and 1.42 million (+22%).
Rounding out the recent slate, Warriors-Celtics drew a 1.1 and 1.74 million on ESPN Friday — up 51% and 53% respectively from ’19 (Mavericks-Sixers: 0.7, 1.14M) — followed by Lakers-Timberwolves at a 1.0 and 1.60 million. Those games are not included in the previously-mentioned season average.
It should be noted that even with many NBA teams struggling through depleted rosters and several games being postponed, national TV games have thus far been largely unaffected. Tuesday marked the first time that any national game this season has been postponed, with TNT losing a Wizards-Nets broadcast.
* 2019 average excludes two Christmas Day games. Including those games, the average is up three percent.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily]
