Viewership rebounded, if still below last year, for the only competitive game of the now-completed NBA Western Conference Finals.
Monday’s Thunder-Timberwolves NBA Western Conference Finals Game 4 averaged a 3.4 rating and 6.53 million viewers across ESPN (3.2, 6.16M) and an ESPN2 “InsightCast” (0.22, 378K), down 7 and 5 percent respectively from Timberwolves-Mavericks on TNT and truTV lat year (3.7, 6.87M), and easily the highest rated and most-watched game of the series to that point.
Oklahoma City’s two-point win — the only game of the five-game series decided by fewer than 15 — cruised past the previous series-highs of 2.9 and 5.36 million for Game 1.
Ratings and viewership declined only 3 and 1 percent respectively from last year’s conference final Game 4 on the ESPN networks, Celtics-Pacers in the same Memorial Day window last year (3.5, 6.63M).
Game 3 on Saturday — a 42-point Minnesota rout — averaged a 2.6 and 5.26 million on ABC, down 26 and 27 percent respectively from Timberwolves-Mavericks on TNT and truTV last year (3.5, 7.25M).
Minnesota’s win was the least-watched conference final Game 3 since the 2020 bubble, when Lakers-Nuggets and Celtics-Heat drew 4.96 and 3.99 million respectively in the third week of September. Excluding that anomalous circumstance, it was the least-watched since Spurs-Grizzlies in 2013 (4.94M).
Ratings fell 22% and viewership 19% from ABC’s conference final game last year, Celtics-Pacers in the same Saturday night window (3.3, 6.48M). Of the 20 total conference final games on ABC (2003-present), Minnesota’s 42-point rout ranks 15th in viewership.
The difference in viewership between Game 3 and 4 is an indication that the lopsided nature of the series — which ended Wednesday with a 30-point Oklahoma City blowout — was a significant drag. While Memorial Day out-of-home viewing may have played a possible role, even the household rating (which does not include out-of-home viewing) was considerably stronger than the previous games.
Oklahoma City’s Game 5 win on Wednesday was their record-setting fourth 30-point win over the postseason. Including games in which they themselves were being blown out, the Thunder have played in six games this postseason decided by 25 or more points. Of their 16 total games this postseason, more than half (nine) included a 25-point margin at any point during the game.
The ratings impact has actually been inconsistent. The Thunder’s 51-point playoff-opening rout of the Grizzlies increased 18 percent on ABC (with Easter Sunday out-of-home viewing playing a role), while their only game all postseason in which neither team led by double-figures — Game 3 against the Nuggets — declined 19% percent.
Viewership for Oklahoma City Thunder playoff games
Ranked by largest margin at any point during game. Figures via ESPN, Programming Insider
