The 2025 NBA Playoffs opened with the league’s most-watched first weekend in a quarter-century, drawing an average of 4.4 million viewers across eight games, the NBA announced Monday. Viewership was up 17% compared to the same period in 2024.
The weekend featured coverage across ESPN, ABC, TNT, truTV, and Max. ESPN platforms, including ABC and ESPN, averaged 4.49 million viewers for six games—its highest-ever opening weekend audience for the playoffs. TNT Sports, which aired two games across TNT, truTV, and Max, averaged 4.13 million viewers, marking the network’s most-watched opening weekend since 2017.
Game 1 of the Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics series drew the largest audience of the weekend with 6.69 million viewers on ABC. It was the second-most-watched Game 1 of a first-round series on the network. On ESPN, the Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks matchup averaged 4.12 million viewers, making it the network’s second-most-watched Game 1 of a first-round series.
Here is a breakdown of the full opening weekend schedule:
Saturday, April 19
- Bucks vs. Pacers: 2.37 million viewers, peak 3.15 million (ESPN)
- Clippers vs. Nuggets: 3.64 million, peak 5.28 million (ESPN)
- Pistons vs. Knicks: 4.12 million, peak 4.66 million (ESPN)
- Timberwolves vs. Lakers: 5.84 million, peak 6.76 million (ABC)
Sunday, April 20
- Grizzlies vs. Thunder: 4.45 million, peak 5.60 million (ABC)
- Magic vs. Celtics: 6.69 million, peak 8.02 million (ABC)
- Heat vs. Cavaliers: 4.02 million, peak 4.69 million (TNT/truTV/Max)
- Warriors vs. Rockets: 4.24 million, peak 4.49 million (TNT/truTV/Max)
According to the league, all first-round games airing on cable were nonexclusive in local team markets.
