Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

The 2025 NBA Finals have been one of the lowest-rated of all time, but that could drastically change because of a do-or-die Game 7.

On Thursday, Indiana defeated Oklahoma City, 108-91, to force a deciding final game Sunday. It will be just the fifth Finals series this century that has gone the full seven games.

The previous four series saw a 65% increase in viewers for Game 7 vs. the average of the first six contests. That includes the seven-game Finals series in 2005, which could not draw more than 11 million viewers through its first four games. 

The finalists were the Spurs and the Pistons, which, like the Thunder and Pacers, are in two of the league’s smallest markets. Games 5 and 6 in 2005 delivered at least 13 million viewers each, while Game 7 drew 19 million. (This year’s series has not passed 10 million viewers in each of the first five games.)

The last Game 7 in the NBA Finals was in 2016 between the LeBron James-led Cavaliers and Steph Curry-led Warriors, which drew 31 million viewers—the most-watched NBA game since Michael Jordan played for the Bulls.

Finally Near the Summit

Herb Simon is the NBA’s longest-tenured owner. But in 42 seasons at the helm in Indiana, he has never been this close to an NBA championship. The Pacers had only made the NBA Finals one other time before this season, when they lost 4–2 to the Lakers in 2000.

As with many legacy pro sports team owners, Simon’s investment has paid off. He purchased the Pacers in 1983 for $11 million. In 2023, he sold a 15% stake in Pacers to Steven Rales, who already owned 5% of the team, at a $3.47 billion valuation. The Pacers are now estimated to be worth $3.6 billion, according to Forbes. 

Under Simon, the Pacers have taken a different approach to roster building than most of the league. They refused to tank, and haven’t picked in the top five of the NBA Draft since 1989. Game 3 hero Bennedict Mathurin, selected No. 6 in 2022, was their first top-10 pick in that timeframe.

They also have been shrewd with their spending, avoiding the luxury tax for the last 20 years. However, win or lose, this run has changed their approach as the team is prepared to enter the tax next year. It likely helps that the team is making millions in revenue from ticket sales and merchandise from each additional home playoff game this year. 

Simon’s approach has kept the Pacers competitive for decades, including 10 conference finals appearances since 1990. That’s tied for third in the league, and all other teams with at least 10 have won multiple championships (Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, Heat).