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The Knicks and Pacers are delivering strong ratings to TNT for the network’s NBA swan song. ESPN isn’t getting close to the same numbers on the other side of the bracket.
Game 3 between New York and Indiana averaged 7.1 million viewers Sunday on TNT, the most-watched Eastern Conference finals Game 3 since 2015 (Cavaliers vs. Hawks, 7.8 million). The game is also the second-most-watched game of the 2025 NBA playoffs, right behind Game 4 of the opening-round series between the Lakers and Timberwolves (7.4 million). The first three games of the rivalry series averaged about 6.8 million viewers.
The Pacers won Game 4 on Tuesday to take a 3–1 series lead, but each game has been close. All four games have been decided by 10 points or fewer.
In the Western Conference, a move from ESPN to ABC for Game 3 couldn’t deliver more viewers for the Thunder vs. T-Wolves series. Saturday’s game averaged 5.26 million viewers, right in between the viewership for Game 1 (5.36 million) and Game 2 (5.16 million), both of which aired on ESPN. Game 2 was the least-watched Western Conference finals game since 2013, according to Sports Media Watch.
It likely didn’t help ratings that the game was a blowout from the beginning. Minnesota was up 34–14 at the end of the first quarter en route to a 42-point win, Oklahoma City’s largest playoff loss in history. The first three games were decided by 15 points or more, though Game 4 on Monday was finally close: a two-point win by Oklahoma City.
With the Thunder and Pacers both up 3–1, the two small-market franchises are poised to clash in the NBA Finals. The question is whether fans will watch the two teams and their young star guards—MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton—battle for the championship.
NBA ratings were up 3% through two rounds following a regular season that saw a 2% decline.
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