The NBA Conference Finals are delivering massive audiences, led by the Western Conference showdown between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals averaged a combined 10.10 million viewers on NBC, including 7.77 million measured by Nielsen and an additional 2.3 million streaming viewers tracked by Adobe Analytics. The figure surpassed the previous record of 10.04 million set by Heat-Bulls on TNT in 2011, making it the most-watched Conference Finals Game 2 in the Nielsen people meter era (1988-present).
The game peaked at 12.2 million viewers during the 10:45 PM ET quarter-hour and marked a 96% increase compared to last year’s Timberwolves-Thunder Game 2 on ESPN.
Through two games, the Spurs-Thunder series is averaging 9.59 million viewers, up 82% year-over-year and currently tracking as the most-watched Western Conference Finals on record. It is also the highest-rated conference final through two games since Heat-Bulls in 2011.
Games 1 and 2 now rank as the second and third most-watched NBA games of the season. The top spot remains Sixers-Celtics Game 7 from the first round, which drew 10.99 million viewers following the Kentucky Derby broadcast.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference Finals also opened with strong numbers. Game 1 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks averaged 7.1 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched Eastern Conference Finals opener since the LeBron James-era Cavaliers faced Boston in 2018.
The Knicks’ comeback victory peaked at 8.87 million viewers and posted a 9% increase compared to last year’s Pacers-Knicks Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 on TNT.
With both conference finals generating major audiences across television and streaming platforms, the NBA is seeing some of its strongest postseason viewership numbers in recent years.