If the series between the Warriors and the Mavericks did not break records, on the other hand, that between the Heat and the Celtics allowed ESPN to achieve very good scores. In particular thanks to this Game 7 followed by 9.9 million viewers with a peak of 12.2 million! Excluding the Finals matches, it’s simply the best audience for an NBA game since the Lakers-Warriors Christmas 2018.
Selon Sports Media Watch, if we include the Finals, it is the 3rd best audience for an NBA game since the Covid crisis. Only Game 4 and 6 of the final between Milwaukee and Phoenix did better. Two matches broadcast on the national network, unlike the 7th round between Miami and Boston.
Even if they are very good compared to the last two seasons, its figures must be put into perspective since Game 7 between the Warriors and the Rockets, and the Cavaliers and the Celtics in 2018 had attracted 14.9 and 13.6 million respectively. Americans in front of their screens.
In the end, the series between the Warriors and Celtics averaged 6.98 million viewers, a 40% increase from the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals between the Bucks and Hawks. It’s better than the series between the Warriors and the Mavericks, and its 6.7 million average viewers.
It is also the first time since 2014 that the Eastern Conference final has obtained better scores than the Western one.