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The NBA’s top two teams faced off Wednesday, but it was unclear whether fans would pay attention to a matchup between the Cavaliers and Thunder, two small-market darlings. The numbers are in, and while they aren’t spectacular, they are a positive for the NBA.
Cleveland and Oklahoma City drew 1.87 million viewers on ESPN, about 8% more than the 1.72 million average per national TV game this season—which includes the five-game Christmas Day slate that drew 5.32 million viewers. The game averaged 20% more than the comparable window last year, a Pelicans-Warriors game that featured Steph Curry, one of the league’s biggest viewership draws, but ended in a 141–105 blowout.
The Cavaliers and Thunder, both of whom are on pace to win 70 or more games, delivered an exciting game on the court that featured 30 lead changes and zero double-digit advantages. The game peaked at 2.5 million viewers in the fourth quarter.
The two teams also generated strong buzz on social media—which has been one of the NBA’s strong suits, even when measured against the NFL. The Cavaliers and Thunder created 416 million social media impressions Wednesday, according to Talkwalker.
They meet again in Oklahoma City on Thursday in a game that will air on TNT.
The NBA’s declining viewership was a sour subject through the first two months of the season. The league was facing an 18% viewership decline entering Christmas, but following Wednesday’s slate, is down about 4% versus last year.
