Skip to content

Ratings rebound: Warriors' sweep of Blazers saw viewership surge

Steve Dykes / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After the NBA's TV ratings disappointed during the first round of the postseason, things have rebounded somewhat in the conference finals - at least in the West.

ESPN's metered market ratings for the final contest of the Golden State Warriors' four-game sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers scored a 40 percent increase over Game 4 of the 2017 Western Conference finals, the last time the network broadcasted the series.

The entire series averaged a 5.8 metered market rating, up 23 percent from a 4.7 rating two years ago, when the Warriors swept the Utah Jazz.

Eastern Conference finals ratings continue to struggle on TNT, although that's believed to be a byproduct of the involvement of the Toronto Raptors, whose Canadian TV ratings are not counted by American networks, and the Milwaukee Bucks, who play in the 36th-largest television market in the U.S.

Despite the western turnaround, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has conceded that the absence of LeBron James has affected overall playoff ratings and said the league could consider West Coast scheduling changes next season.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox