This NBA Finals has been exciting — and is already hitting some strong viewership numbers.
Games 1 and 2 between the Knicks and the Spurs were the most-watched NBA Finals games since Games 6 and 7 of the Raptors-Warriors Finals in 2019, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel shared by ESPN.
Game 1 led the way, averaging 16.93 million viewers on ABC and peaking at 19.63 million.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) is double-teamed by San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) and San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) during the second quarter of NBA Finals Game 2. Jason Szenes for the New York PostTwo days later, Game 2 followed suit, hitting 19.42 million people in the 11:15 p.m. ET quarter-hour and averaging 16.63 million viewers throughout the contest.
ESPN shared that Game 2’s thriller, a Knicks 105-104 win, was the most-watched program “across all of television” on Friday.
Viewership marks are based on Nielsen’s final same-day ratings.
The Game 1 numbers are up 90 percent from last year’s series between the Thunder and Pacers, which drew 8.91 million viewers. It is also up 3 percent from that Finals’ Game 7 viewership.
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Game 2 was up 88 percent on last year’s series and marked the most-watched Game 2 since the 2018 NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cavaliers.
If the trend continues, the NBA could be in for a huge ratings boost for the entirety of the Finals.
New York Knicks fans stood in long lines and gathered in Central Park to watch the Game 3 of the NBA finals. ZUMAPRESS.comThe four Warriors-Cleveland Cavaliers Finals during the 2010s are the only other series to draw more than 16 million viewers in Games 1 and 2.
Compared to other sports, Game 1’s mark of 19.63 million outpaced the first five games of the 2025 World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays.
It also bests any MLB World Series Game 1 since the Chicago-Cleveland series in 2016.
