• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Tuned In is Almost Sold Out! Limited Tickets Remain!

Cavs vs. Celtics Draws Big TV Numbers in NBA Cup Showdown

The battle between the Eastern Conference juggernauts averaged 1.94 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million.

Nov 19, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers play during the second half at TD Garden.
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The face-off between the Celtics and Cavaliers had plenty of the ingredients required to drive viewers to their TV screens. And it delivered.

The game averaged 1.94 million viewers on TNT, up 79% over last year’s comparable game, and peaked at 2.7 million viewers. 

The total for Tuesday night’s doubleheader dipped to an average of just 1.6 million viewers due to the Thunder-Spurs nightcap, where Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren were missing due to injury, but the overall average was still 42% higher than Night 3 of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament, which also featured the Spurs-Thunder followed by Clippers-Nuggets.

The latest results have brought NBA viewership on TNT essentially even with last season at an average of 1.8 million viewers per game.

The 2024 Emirates NBA Cup games are averaging 1.56 million viewers through six games, which is just a 4% increase over last year. This season’s number is dragged down by Friday’s ESPN games (Lakers-Spurs, 1.28 million; Grizzlies-Warriors, 1.03 million), which were affected by the Mike Tyson–Jake Paul fight along with several other programs

A Proven Recipe 

The Cavs-Celtics viewership results showcased how, despite criticism against the league’s three-point-heavy style, an ostensibly meaningful contest featuring top teams and players can boost viewership.

The game had a clear storyline: The defending champions, entering the game at 11–3 and second in the East, battled a budding contender carrying a 15–0 record, the second-longest winning streak to start a season in league history. Most of the star players were healthy, and while no one had the name value of LeBron James—Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Donovan Mitchell are still top attractions.

It was also an NBA Cup showdown, and while it’s still not clear whether the in-season tournament is driving viewership—last Tuesday’s opener was up 71% but featured the return of Klay Thompson to Golden State—it at least provided additional intrigue to the battle. 

“Everybody knew that they were undefeated and coming to our building. And also, it’s an NBA Cup game, and we already lost one game. So it was a really big game in that aspect. So we were all aware,” Celtics guard Derrick White said after the game.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Aug 23, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Denver Broncos helmet against the New Orleans Saints during warmups at Caesars Superdome.

Broncos Eye 2031 Opening for New Multibillion-Dollar Stadium

The NFL team plans a new venue and mixed-use development.

Networks Set NFL Ratings Records As New Measurements Begin

Network viewership soars on the NFL’s opening Sunday.

WNBA Hits 3M Attendance Milestone in Season’s Final Week

The WNBA extended the season to a record 44 games this year.

Featured Today

Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.
opinion
September 9, 2025

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from NFL’s Week 1 Broadcasts

Many viewers decried the addition of ads to “NFL RedZone.”
Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) leads the team onto the field for warm ups before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
September 7, 2025

Slow Burn: The NFL’s Private-Equity Era So Far

Three deals have been struck to date. But the league is bullish.
Tennis
September 5, 2025

The US Open Is Groaning Under the Weight of Its Own Success

New York’s tennis major is more popular than ever.

NFL’s Expected Early-Season Ratings Boost Gets Off to a Stormy Start

The kickoff game somewhat resembles the delays last year in an SNF game.
Eagles
September 4, 2025

The Death of Streameast Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Mirror sites began popping up Thursday, the day the NFL season begins.
September 4, 2025

TNT Sports to Try Its Own Streaming App After WBD Split

TNT Sports will have its own app as a corporate split approaches.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
September 4, 2025

3 ABC Games Top 10M Viewers Each in ESPN’s Record CFB Weekend

Miami–Notre Dame led the way with 10.8 million viewers.
September 4, 2025

Bill Belichick’s UNC Debut Draws More Than 6M Viewers on ESPN

TCU-UNC was the fifth-most-watched college football game of Week 1.
September 3, 2025

Ohio State–Texas Showdown Was Most-Watched Week 1 CFB Game Ever

Fox drew 16.62 million viewers on Saturday afternoon.
September 2, 2025

NFL on Nielsen’s Latest Measurement Upgrade: ‘More Work to Be Done’

The league calls its relationship with the agency a “protracted journey.”