NBA Playoffs' Opening Weekend Garners Highest Viewership in 25 Years
The NBA playoffs in 2025 received the highest ratings for an opening weekend in the past 25 years, according to an announcement from the league on Tuesday.
The schedule of eight games on Saturday and Sunday had an average of 4.4 million viewers, which is a 17% increase from the previous year.
The six games broadcasted on ABC and ESPN had an average of 4.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched opening weekend in the history of the network.
The two games shown on Sunday night by TNT, truTV, and MAX - Cleveland defeating Miami and Golden State beating Houston - had an average of 4.13 million viewers. This is the highest ratings for these networks in eight years and a 23% increase from 2024.
The most popular game was the Boston Celtics' 103-86 victory over the Orlando Magic on Easter Sunday, which had an average of 6.69 million viewers. This made it the second-most watched first-round Game 1 on ABC, with ratings peaking at 8 million viewers.
The same trend was seen on ESPN, with the New York Knicks' 123-112 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday having an average of 4.12 million viewers. This is the second-most watched first-round Game 1 on ESPN.
The three games with the highest ratings were all on ABC, the only national over-the-air broadcast partner of the league. Following the Magic-Celtics game, the second-highest ratings were for the Minnesota Timberwolves' 117-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, with an average of 5.4 million viewers.
The least watched of ABC's three Sunday games was the Oklahoma City Thunder's dominant 131-80 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, which had an average of 4.45 million viewers.
This positive news for the NBA comes after regular-season ratings were down 2%, with double-digit decreases in the first two months, according to Front Office Sports. ABC saw a 10% increase in ratings, while ESPN-exclusive games were down 7% and TNT ratings decreased by 8%, as reported by Front Office Sports.
