NBA Playoffs Deliver Early With Game 7 Drama, Strong Ratings

After a regular season filled with competition issues stemming from tanking, the NBA playoffs have started strong.

The first round wrapped up Sunday after a weekend with three do-or-die Game 7s, the most in the NBA’s opening round since 2014. But the lengthy series matchups—which saw the 76ers, Pistons, and Cavaliers advance—mean there’s little break in the action as the second round starts Monday.

The Road Ahead

Joel Embiid and the Sixers shocked the NBA by coming back from down 3–1 to defeat the Celtics. The Knicks, another East Coast rival, await in the semifinals, and a revitalized Embiid already has a plea to Philadelphia:

“Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East,” Embiid said Saturday. “We’re going to need the support. Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”

The Sixers are trying to limit ticket sales to fans who are residents of the Greater Philadelphia area based on the addresses on their credit cards. But given the proximity of the two cities, it’ll be difficult to completely restrict the Xfinity Mobile Arena from New Yorkers.

Out West, perhaps the biggest question looming over the playoffs is the potential return of Luka Dončić, who has been out a month since sustaining a Grade 2 hamstring strain. 

The defending champion Thunder will likely still be the favorites if Dončić returns. Worth noting: The last time the Thunder lost in the playoffs was in the 2024 Western Conference finals against a Dončić-led Mavericks.

Out and Uncertain

For the teams that have already been eliminated, the offseason questions have already begun, especially for those who were expected to make a deep run.

• Nuggets: According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Nuggets will listen to offers for everyone on their roster other than Jokic. That means All-Star Jamal Murray, who has three years, $161.4 million left on his contract after this season. Head coach David Adelman, who joined the team late last season, is reportedly safe.
• Rockets: Houston has “no plans” of moving on from head coach Ime Udoka or GM Rafael Stone, according to Yahoo Sports. The question is whether the team will keep Kevin Durant—and if they do, will they try to acquire another star to pair alongside him. 
• Celtics: Boston overachieved this year in what appeared to be a gap year after shedding $300 million in projected salary. But after being upset by the Sixers in the first round, Boston will have to find ways to retool around their two stars—particularly by bolstering a frontline that was exposed by Embiid.
• Magic: Orlando nearly brushed off a disappointing regular season by upsetting the No. 1 seed Pistons in the first round. Instead, they blew a 3–1 lead. Head coach Jamahl Mosley will be on the hot seat after the team finished at the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency despite sending four first-round picks to Memphis for Desmond Bane. 
• Raptors: Toronto exceeded expectations this year, but it’s unclear if their core’s ceiling is higher than an early playoff exit—and most of their cap space is tied to their starting five next year. Their offseason question: Will they try again with the same group? 

Strong Ratings 

The league announced Thursday that the first round of the playoffs was averaging 3.91 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video, the league’s highest viewership in 33 years. The success comes after an opening weekend that was the second-most-watched since 2011. 

It should only go up once the final opening-round viewership is announced, especially given three Game 7s, which are known for bringing in increased viewership.