NBA Finals ratings: Pacers-Thunder thriller posts worst Game 1 numbers since league’s COVID-19 downturn
June 7, 2025 at 1:07 AM UTC·2 min read
Despite delivering a thrilling Game 1, the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder recorded the lowest viewership for a Game 1 since the league’s COVID-19 downturn. The game averaged a 4.7 rating and 8.91 million viewers on ABC, marking the least-watched Game 1 of the Nielsen meter era (since 1988), excluding the 2020 and 2021 seasons impacted by the pandemic, according to Sports Media Watch.
This represents an 18% decline in ratings and a 19% drop in viewership compared to last year’s Finals opener between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks. The numbers might have been worse if not for the Pacers’ dramatic comeback led by Tyrese Haliburton in the final minutes.
The matchup between teams from the 25th and 47th largest markets in the Nielsen rankings seemed to affect viewership, despite Oklahoma City’s mayor expressing confidence ahead of the game.
While ratings are down, the NBA recently finalized $76 billion in television deals for the next 11 seasons, indicating that the league derives value from multiple areas beyond traditional viewership.
The NBA’s PR team highlighted several positives, including the broadcast reaching 11 million viewers by the time Haliburton made his game-winning shot, strong viewership among the 18-to-34-year-old demographic, and a record number of views on social media.
The Pacers’ win could boost future ratings, as many viewers might have been deterred by the perceived lopsided nature of the series. The Thunder, despite being down 1-0, remain heavy favorites to win the title, but the potential for a comeback or a significant upset could attract more fans in the coming games.