NBA Playoffs Record 25-Year Viewership High For Opening Weekend

The 2025 NBA Playoffs was the most-watched opening weekend in 25 years, with the eight-game schedule averaging 4.4 million viewers, marking a significant 17 percent increase compared to last year’s figures.

Both major broadcast partners set impressive milestones during the playoff kickoff. ESPN platforms (ABC/ESPN) averaged 4.49 million viewers across their six-game slate, establishing a new record for the most-watched playoffs opening weekend in network history. Meanwhile, TNT Sports’ coverage across TNT, truTV, and Max drew 4.13 million viewers for their two-game package, representing the network’s best opening weekend performance in eight years.

The Boston Celtics’ first-round opener against the Orlando Magic emerged as the standout broadcast, drawing 6.69 million viewers on ABC and peaking at 8.02 million. This made it the second most-watched First Round Game 1 in ABC’s broadcast history. Similarly, ESPN’s coverage of the Detroit Pistons versus New York Knicks matchup attracted 4.12 million viewers, securing the position as the network’s second most-watched First Round Game 1 ever.

TNT Sports’ Sunday doubleheader also performed well, with the Miami Heat versus Cleveland Cavaliers game averaging 4.02 million viewers and the Golden State Warriors facing the Houston Rockets attracting 4.24 million viewers across TNT, truTV, and Max platforms.

Saturday’s primetime matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers delivered ABC’s strongest viewership of the day with 5.84 million viewers, peaking at 6.76 million. The Milwaukee Bucks versus Indiana Pacers contest was the weekend’s least-watched game, but still managed a 2.37 million viewer average on ESPN.