NBA Playoffs Deliver Most-Watched Opening Weekend in 25 Years

The NBA regular season got off to a slow start ratings-wise, which triggered significant conversation about the league’s declining viewership. The same can’t be said about the NBA playoffs.

The opening weekend of the 2025 NBA postseason drew 4.4 million viewers across eight games on ESPN and TNT platforms, the most-watched opening weekend in 25 years, the league announced Tuesday. It’s also up 17% compared to last year. It’s worth noting that the NBA’s Sunday slate fell on Easter.

The three most-watched games were all on ABC, the NBA’s lone national over-the-air broadcast partner. ABC games averaged 5.66 million viewers, led by the 6.69 million who watched the defending champion Celtics defeat the Magic. That game, which peaked at 8 million viewers, tipped off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The second-most-watched game was Timberwolves vs. Lakers, which aired Saturday night on ABC and averaged 5.84 million viewers.

The six-game slate on ESPN platforms, which included the three ABC games and three ESPN games, averaged 4.49 million viewers—the highest in the network’s history. TNT averaged 4.13 million viewers for its two-game slate Sunday night (Heat vs. Cavaliers, Warriors vs. Rockets, up 23% from last year).

The league’s regular-season viewership numbers finished down 2% after double-digit declines through the first two months. ABC ended the season with 10% growth, but cable channels drove the dip with ESPN-exclusive games down 7% and TNT games down 8%. On top of dwindling cable subscribers, cable channels do not have exclusive broadcasting rights in local markets.

The NBA will add NBC and Amazon as television partners next year—losing TNT in the process—as the league’s new, 11-year, $77 billion media-rights deal kicks in. 

No Flex

The most exciting series so far has been the Western Conference matchup between the Clippers and Nuggets. It was the only Game 1 decided by fewer than 10 points, and through two games, the teams are separated by just one point.

However, Game 3 of the series is currently scheduled to air at 10 p.m. ET on NBA TV, which caused several pundits to suggest that the NBA should consider flexing Game 3 of the series Thursday to TNT in favor of Game 3 of the Thunder vs. Grizzlies series scheduled on TNT. 

A source told Front Office Sports that the league has no intention of adjusting its schedule.

Game 1 of Memphis vs. OKC, a 51-point blowout, drew 4.45 million viewers Sunday on ABC (the least watched of ABC’s three-game slate). The Clippers vs. Nuggets averaged 3.64 million Saturday on ESPN.