NBA Scores Most-Watched First-Round Game In 24 Years

The NBA Playoffs are gaining TV momentum heading into tonight’s marquee matchup between LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers vs. Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors.

Sunday afternoon’s Game 7 of the Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings was the league’s most-watched first-round game in 24 years.

With Steph Curry of the Warriors pouring in 50 points, ABC’s telecast averaged 9.8 million viewers – peaking at 11.9 million. That made it ABC’s biggest audience ever for a non-NBA Finals telecast.

The Warriors-Kings series sets the table for the second-round matchup between the Lakers and Curry’s defending champion Warriors, which could draw bigger TV numbers than some NBA Finals games. 

Warner Bros Discovery Sports TNT will offer a powerhouse doubleheader tonight, featuring Game 2 of the New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Game 1 of Lakers-Warriors at 10 p.m. ET.

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| by Michael McCarthy

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Overall, the NBA rang up its most-watched first round in nine years across The Walt Disney Co.’s ABC/ESPN, TNT, and the league’s own NBA TV. More:

• The NBA’s first-round games averaged 3.4 million viewers, up 15% from last year.

• Disney’s ABC/ESPN delivered their most-watched first round ever. Games averaged 4.5 million viewers, up 18%. 

• TNT had its most-watched first round in five years, averaging 3.5 million viewers. That’s up 6% from last year. 

• The NBA App and NBA social generated a record 2.6 billion video views during the first round. That’s up 46% from 2022. The redesigned NBA App had its most ever users on a single day on Sunday.