The News Life

NBA Finals 2025: Pacers-Thunder Matchup Sets “Sad Record” for Ratings Since COVID-19 Era.Phuong

June 11, 2025 by mrs y

The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a thrilling Game 1, but dismal ratings have raised concerns about the appeal of these small-market teams.

The opening game of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder drew only a 4.7 rating and 8.91 million viewers on ABC, marking the least-watched Game 1 since 1988, excluding the COVID-19-affected years of 2020-2021. According to Sports Media Watch, this represents an 18% drop in ratings and a 19% decline in viewership compared to last year’s opener between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 05: Bennedict Mathurin #00 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket against Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kyle Terada - Pool/Getty Images)

The situation worsened in Game 2, where the Thunder’s dominant victory attracted just 8.76 million viewers on ABC—the lowest for a Game 2 since 2007, outside the COVID-19 period. These poor figures seem to confirm concerns about the limited draw of a matchup between teams from cities ranked 25th and 47th in Nielsen’s market rankings.

Despite the bleak ratings, the NBA found some silver linings.

NBA representatives highlighted positive notes, including a peak of 11 million viewers during Game 1 when Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-deciding shot with 0.3 seconds remaining. The league also reported strong ratings among the 18-34 age group and record-breaking social media viewership, reflecting a shift in how fans consume content.

The Pacers’ unexpected victory could shift the ratings trajectory for future games.

 

Indiana’s surprising Game 2 win, leveling the series at 1-1 after being heavy underdogs, may draw more viewers intrigued by the potential for one of the greatest upsets in NBA Finals history. The Thunder opened with -800 odds to win the championship, the best since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors, but despite still being favored at -575, they’ve shown they’re not invincible.

Despite low ratings, the NBA’s financial future remains secure.

More importantly, even with declining ratings, the NBA recently secured a $76 billion, 11-year broadcasting deal, underscoring the league’s immense commercial value from diverse revenue streams. This ensures that fans’ favorite teams and stars will remain financially stable, regardless of ratings performance.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • SAD NEWS: Identity of Victim Confirmed in Boeing 767 Tragedy: A Beloved Figure at the Very Heart of the San Francisco Giants — And the Final Words He Shared Before the Flight Now Echo Across the Baseball World Like a Farewell We Never Saw Coming…nh1
  • BREAKING – GOOD NEWS: Giants Star Camilo Doval Is Officially a Dad — And the Baby Name Has Fans Everywhere Melting, Thanks to Its Heartwarming Ties to Love, Family, and a Quiet Gift From the Ballpark…nh1
  • SAD NEWS: Giants Fans Across America Break Down in Tears After Robbie Ray’s Emotional Family Announcement — But It Was His One-Line Instagram Post That Left Everyone Speechless and in Awe of His Strength.nh1
  • CONGRATULATIONS: Jung Hoo Lee Named First-Ever Captain in Giants History — But It Was His 7-Word Speech in the Locker Room That Silenced the Team and Made Fans Say, “That’s Our Leader.”.nh1
  • GOOD NEWS: Randy Johnson Officially Inducted into the Hall of Fame — But It’s His Emotional Message to San Francisco Giants Fans That’s Leaving the Baseball World in Tears: “I Was Never Perfect. But You Made Me Feel Like I Belonged….nh1

Recent Comments

  1. A WordPress Commenter on Hello world!

Copyright © 2025 · Paradise on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in