NBA playoffs scoring highest ratings in nearly three decades

The NBA continues to tout its resurgent TV ratings two rounds into the playoffs.

The first two rounds of the playoffs have averaged 4.5 million viewers per game, NBA PR said Tuesday, with games across ABC, ESPN and new broadcast partners NBC/Peacock and Amazon Prime Video.

According to the league, it's the highest average since 1997, 29 years ago.

In a separate announcement, Prime Video said Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers eliminating the top-seeded Detroit Pistons averaged 6.53 million viewers, which beat last year's "comparable Game 7 of Round 2" (Oklahoma City vs. Denver) by 3%.

The Cavaliers visit the New York Knicks on Tuesday night for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, while the San Antonio Spurs beat the defending champion Thunder in double overtime Monday in Game 1 of the Western finals.

--Field Level Media

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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 5:42 PM.