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NBA playoffs scoring highest ratings in nearly three decades

By Thomson Reuters May 19, 2026 | 7:00 PM

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