NBA playoff ratings: Opening weekend at 11-yr high

After three years of intense scrutiny for lower-than-usual ratings, the NBA Playoffs opened with its most-watched opening weekend in 11 years — and its most-watched opening weekend game in 20.

The opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs averaged 4.05 million viewers across ABC, ESPN and TNT, the largest audience for the first weekend of play since 2011. Viewership jumped 37% from last year, when the playoffs began in late May (2.95M), and 41% from 2019, the previous postseason to begin in April (2.88M). There was no opening weekend two years ago, when the postseason began on a Monday in August.

Broken down by network, ABC averaged 5.72 million for its two games (+34%), ESPN 3.60 million for its three (+18%) and TNT 3.8 million for its three (+47%). ESPN/ABC had its most-watched opening weekend since 2011 and TNT its most-watched since 2018.

Sunday’s Nets-Celtics Game 1 led the way with a 3.1 rating and 6.90 million viewers on ABC, the most-watched opening weekend game in 20 years (2002 Trail Blazers-Lakers: 8.37M) and the most-watched first round game overall in six (2016 Warriors-Rockets: 7.24M).

Boston’s thrilling win, which peaked with 9.85 million viewers from 6-6:15 PM ET, jumped 30% in ratings and 51% in viewership from Lakers-Suns in the same window last year. Last year’s postseason began in late May. Compared to the previous postseason to begin in April — 2019 — ratings jumped 21% and viewership 77% from Thunder-Blazers on Masters Sunday (2.55, 3.90M).

With a 2.2 rating in adults 18-49 and a 1.9 in adults 18-34, Nets-Celtics ranks as television’s top show in those demographics since college basketball’s National Championship two weeks ago. The final round of the Masters had a 1.8 and 1.2 in those respective demographics the previous Sunday.

Ranking second for the weekend, Bucks-Bulls averaged a 2.2 and 4.77 million on TNT Sunday night — the largest opening round playoff audience on cable since 2018 (Cavaliers-Pacers Game 4: 6.07M). Ratings jumped 34% and viewership 56% from Hawks-Knicks last year and 39% and 79% respectively from Pistons-Bucks in 2019 (1.6, 2.66M).

Bookending the Sunday schedule, Pelicans-Suns drew a 2.0 (+25%) and 4.02 million (+45%) and Hawks-Heat a 1.3 (+18%) and 2.67 million (+35%).

The Easter holiday, which for years was associated with lower viewing levels, seems to have turbocharged the usual out-of-home effect. A 3.1 rating would typically correspond with fewer viewers. For example, Saint Peter’s-Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament averaged a 3.1 and 5.46 million viewers.

All four games on Easter posted significantly larger increases in viewership than in ratings, while there was not a significant gap between the two metrics for Saturday’s four games.

Nuggets-Warriors led the Saturday slate with a 2.4 and 4.52 million on ABC, up 14% in ratings and 16% in viewership from Celtics-Nets last year, but down 19% and 6% respectively from Golden State’s previous playoff opener against the Clippers three years ago, which aired in the same Saturday night window (3.0, 4.83M).

Raptors-Sixers averaged a 1.9 and 3.60 million on ESPN, up 49% in ratings and as much as 57% in viewership from Blazers-Nuggets last year (1.3, 2.30M*) and up 76% and 97% respectively from Spurs-Nuggets in ’19 (1.1, 1.83M). Both of those games aired in late night windows.

Finally, Timberwolves-Grizzlies drew a 1.9 (+25) and 3.36 million (+27%)* and Jazz-Mavericks brought up the rear with a 1.3 (+8%) and 2.34 million (+13%).*

Shifting to the NBA Play-in Tournament, Hawks-Cavaliers averaged a 1.7 and 3.07 million on ESPN Friday night — up 55% and as much as 79% from Pacers-Wizards on TNT last year (1.1, 1.71M*). Pelicans-Clippers drew a 1.2 and 2.19 million on TNT later in the night, down 41% and at least 40% respectively from Grizzlies-Warriors on ESPN last year (2.1, 3.63M*).