The 2024 NBA Finals saw a year-over-year increase for Game 3 as the Boston Celtics closed in on the championship.
Per ESPN, Wednesday’s Game 3 averaged 11.426 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, up 2% from Nuggets-Heat last year (11.24 million with no ESPN alternate broadcast). The audience peaked at 10:45 p.m. in the quarter hour, with 13.926 million viewers. The Game 3 audience was also slightly down from Warriors-Celtics in 2022 (11.52 million).
Through three games, viewership is even with the Nuggets-Heat series from a year ago, averaging 11.59 million viewers. Last year’s Denver-Miami series went five games, finishing with an average of 11.64 million viewers. Game 5 was the series’ high watermark, averaging 13.08 million viewers.
After a slow start in Game 1, thanks to the Celtics’ blowout win over the Dallas Mavericks, Game 2’s viewership surged to a five-year high on Sunday. Unfortunately for ESPN and the NBA, Boston’s win gives them a 3-0 series lead and puts the possibility of a sweep into focus, which would be bad news for the Finals’ overall viewership. Dallas pulling either Game 2 or Game 3 out of the fire would have added some needed tension to the series, which likely would have brought more viewers to the remaining games.
The Celtics can claim the title with a win in Game 4, which airs at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC this Friday, June 14.
[ESPN]
About Joe Lucia
I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.