ESPN delivered its most-watched NBA Playoffs opening weekend ever, drawing record audiences across its platforms, according to Nielsen ratings. The network’s six-game slate, which aired over Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, averaged 4,487,000 viewers. That figure marks a 15 percent increase from last year’s opening weekend coverage.
Leading the way was the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics’ victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round series. The matchup, broadcast Sunday afternoon on ABC, was the most-watched game of the weekend, averaging 6,689,000 viewers.
It peaked at 8,022,000 viewers at 5:45 p.m. ET. The broadcast was the second-most watched NBA Playoffs first-round Game 1 ever, trailing only the Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets game in 2022.
Sunday’s viewership was up 44 percent compared to the corresponding game last year.
Meanwhile, Saturday night’s Minnesota Timberwolves victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC averaged 5,838,000 viewers and peaked at 6,756,000 viewers around 10:30 p.m. The telecast propelled ABC to win the night for April 19 across all of television, leading in all key demographics, including among People and Males. The game saw a three percent increase in viewership from its comparable matchup last year.
Additional games also saw strong performances across ESPN and ABC. On Saturday, April 19, the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers game on ESPN averaged 2,368,000 viewers and peaked at 3,145,000. The LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets game followed with 3,642,000 viewers, peaking at 5,197,000, and the Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks game averaged 4,124,000 viewers, reaching a peak of 4,661,000.
Sunday, April 20, saw the Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder matchup on ABC average 4,451,000 viewers, peaking at 5,601,000 viewers.
ESPN has carried NBA Playoffs coverage since the 2002-03 season.
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