NEW YORK – The 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google delivered the most-watched opening weekend of the playoffs in 25 years. The eight-game schedule averaged 4.4 million viewers, up 17% vs. last year.
Both ESPN and TNT Sports set viewership records for the opening weekend of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. ESPN platforms (ABC/ESPN) averaged 4.49 million viewers for their six-game schedule, making it the most-watched playoffs opening weekend in network history. TNT, truTV and MAX’s two games averaged 4.13 million viewers, making it the most-watched opening weekend of the playoffs on the network in eight years.
Opening weekend of the #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google 📈 https://t.co/bjMPc3CesQ
— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2025
Game 1 of the Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics series averaged 6.69 million viewers, becoming the second most-watched First Round, Game 1 on ABC ever. On ESPN, the Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks matchup averaged 4.12 million viewers, making it the network’s second most-watched First Round, Game 1 ever.
