Spurs-Thunder Game 1 averages record 9.2M viewers, NBA Playoff ratings up 16% through 2 rounds
The Spurs averaged 9.2 million viewers in Game 1, and NBA playoff ratings are up 16% through two rounds.
- On Monday, May 18, 2026, the San Antonio Spurs' 122-115 double-overtime victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder drew a record 9.2 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, the most-watched Western Conference Game 1 in league history.
- Broadcasting changes expanded network coverage, with NBC and ABC airing games for the first time since 2002, while Nielsen's updated methodology began counting out-of-home viewers and smart TV data last September.
- Playoff telecasts have dominated viewership rankings, accounting for 17 of the top 20 most-viewed sports programs since May 1; the first two rounds of the 2026 playoffs saw 23 games average at least 5 million viewers, the most since 2011.
- Amazon Prime Video achieved a milestone when Sunday night's Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons averaged 6.53 million viewers, marking the platform's first time topping Nielsen's weekly sports ratings report.
- The conference finals feature unprecedented network coverage, with NBC airing the entire Western Conference series while ESPN carries most of the Eastern Conference final; Cavaliers-New York Knicks viewership figures are expected Thursday.
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Associated Press News
Spurs-Thunder Game 1 averages record 9.2M viewers, NBA Playoff ratings up 16% through 2 rounds
The first year of the NBA’s media rights deal continues to deliver large amounts of viewers. San Antonio’s 122-115 double overtime victory over Oklahoma City on Monday night was the most-watched Western Conference Game 1 final in league history, averaging 9.2 million viewers on NBC and Peacock accor
9.2 million viewers on average, with a peak of 12 million during the second extension.This article "Thunder – Spurs: record audience for a Game 1 of the West Conference Finals!" appeared first on TrashTalk.
After early round gains, NBA starts WCF with milestone for Spurs-Thunder
The following article "After early round gains, NBA starts WCF with milestone for Spurs-Thunder" originally appeared on Sports Media Watch. A highly-anticipated Western Conference Finals seems poised to turbocharge an NBA playoff audience already up double-digits through the first two rounds. Visit Sports Media Watch for more sports media news and information.
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