Here are ratings for all 89 games of the 2014 playoffs on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBATV, organized by most watched.
Was the bloom already coming off the rose of LeBron James’ Miami Heat? Every game of the Eastern Conference Finals beat all but one game of the Western Finals – but that one game, West Finals Game 6, was the most-watched game before the NBA Finals, and the most-watched game before the conference finals was Mavericks-Spurs Game 7. The four most-watched games on cable before the conference finals (and six of the top seven overall) all involved the Clippers as a result of the controversy surrounding Donald Sterling, with the most-watched pre-conference final game on cable not involving the Clippers being Grizzlies-Thunder Game 7, not any game involving the Heat.
Cable household ratings through May 11 from Son of the Bronx; household ratings from May 12 and later and all ABC daytime numbers from SportsBusiness Daily and Sports Media Watch. 18-49 numbers, when available, from TVbytheNumbers and The Futon Critic.
| Vwr (mil) | HH | 18-49 | Time | Net | ||
|
1 |
NBA Finals: Spurs @ Heat, Game 5 |
17.999 |
10.3 |
6.8 |
6/15 8:00 PM |
ABC |
|
2 |
NBA Finals: Heat @ Spurs Game 2 |
15.131 |
9.0 |
6.0 |
6/8 8:00 PM |
ABC |
|
3 |
NBA Finals: Spurs @ Heat, Game 4 |
14.964 |
9.3 |
6.0 |
6/12 9:00 PM |
ABC |
|
4 |
NBA Finals: Heat @ Spurs Game 1 |
14.846 |
9.0 |
6.0 |
6/5 9:00 PM |
ABC |
|
5 |
NBA Finals: Spurs @ Heat, Game 3 |
14.775 |
9.0 |
5.9 |
6/10 9:00 PM |
ABC |
|
6 |
NBA Western Conference Finals: Spurs @ Thunder, Game 6 |
8.151 |
4.9 |
3.0 |
5/31 8:30 PM |
TNT |
|
7 |
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Heat @ Pacers, Game 1 |
7.815 |
4.9 |
5/18 3:30 PM |
ABC | |
|
8 |
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Heat @ Pacers, Game 2 |
7.544 |
4.9 |
3.2 |
5/20 8:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
9 |
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Heat @ Pacers, Game 5 |
7.313 |
4.7 |
3.1 |
5/28 8:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
10 |
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Pacers @ Heat, Game 4 (TFC/TVBTN) |
7.038 |
2.8 |
5/26 8:34 PM |
ESPN | |
| NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Pacers @ Heat, Game 4 (SBD) |
7.002 |
4.4 |
5/26 8:32 PM |
ESPN | ||
|
11 |
NBA Western Conference Finals: Thunder @ Spurs, Game 5 |
6.925 |
4.3 |
2.8 |
5/29 9:00 PM |
TNT |
|
12 |
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Pacers @ Heat, Game 6 |
6.877 |
4.2 |
2.7 |
5/30 8:33 PM |
ESPN |
|
13 |
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Pacers @ Heat, Game 3 |
6.818 |
4.1 |
2.7 |
5/24 8:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
14 |
NBA Western Conference Finals: Spurs @ Thunder, Game 3 |
6.679 |
3.9 |
2.5 |
5/25 8:30 PM |
TNT |
|
15 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Mavericks @ Spurs, Game 7 |
6.486 |
4.2 |
5/4 4:00 PM |
ABC | |
|
16 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Clippers @ Warriors, Game 4 |
6.474 |
4.2 |
4/27 3:30 PM |
ABC | |
|
17 |
NBA Western Conference Finals: Spurs @ Thunder, Game 4 |
6.42 |
4.2 |
2.6 |
5/27 9:00 PM |
TNT |
|
18 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Thunder @ Clippers, Game 6 |
6.401 |
4.1 |
2.8 |
5/15 10:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
19 |
NBA Western Conference Finals: Thunder @ Spurs, Game 1 |
6.363 |
4.0 |
2.7 |
5/19 9:00 PM |
TNT |
|
20 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Clippers @ Thunder, Game 5 |
6.261 |
3.9 |
2.6 |
5/13 9:30 PM |
TNT |
|
21 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Clippers @ Thunder, Game 2 |
6.188 |
4.0 |
2.6 |
5/7 9:30 PM |
TNT |
|
22 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Thunder @ Clippers, Game 4 |
6 |
3.8 |
5/11 3:30 PM |
ABC | |
|
23 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Warriors @ Clippers, Game 7 |
5.992 |
3.6 |
2.6 |
5/3 10:30 PM |
TNT |
|
24 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Grizzlies @ Thunder, Game 7 |
5.834 |
3.6 |
2.4 |
5/3 8:00 PM |
TNT |
|
25 |
NBA Western Conference Finals: Thunder @ Spurs, Game 2 |
5.711 |
3.7 |
2.2 |
5/21 9:00 PM |
TNT |
|
26 |
NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Heat @ Nets, Game 3 |
5.59 |
3.5 |
2.0 |
5/10 8:00 PM |
ABC |
|
27 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Heat @ Nets, Game 4 |
5.54 |
3.7 |
2.2 |
5/12 8:00 PM |
TNT |
|
28 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Clippers @ Thunder, Game 1 |
5.435 |
3.5 |
2.3 |
5/5 9:30 PM |
TNT |
|
29 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Bobcats @ Heat, Game 1 |
5.357 |
3.3 |
4/20 3:30 PM |
ABC | |
|
30 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Pacers @ Wizards, Game 6 |
5.314 |
3.5 |
2.1 |
5/15 8:00 PM |
ESPN |
|
31 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Trailblazers @ Spurs, Game 5 |
5.048 |
3.3 |
2.1 |
5/14 9:30 PM |
TNT |
|
32 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Clippers @ Thunder, Game 3 |
4.906 |
3.2 |
2.1 |
5/9 10:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
33 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Nets @ Heat, Game 5 |
4.856 |
3.3 |
1.9 |
5/14 7:00 PM |
TNT |
|
34 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Trailblazers @ Spurs, Game 1 |
4.807 |
3.1 |
2.0 |
5/6 9:30 PM |
TNT |
|
35 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Nets @ Raptors, Game 7 |
4.789 |
3.1 |
5/4 1:00 PM |
ABC | |
|
36 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Warriors @ Clippers, Game 5 |
4.732 |
3.1 |
2.2 |
4/29 10:30 PM |
TNT |
|
37 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Rockets @ Trailblazers, Game 4 |
4.727 |
2.9 |
2.1 |
4/27 9:47 PM |
TNT |
|
38 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Thunder @ Grizzlies, Game 4 |
4.62 |
2.9 |
2.0 |
4/26 9:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
39 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Pacers @ Wizards, Game 4 |
4.501 |
2.9 |
1.7 |
5/11 8:00 PM |
TNT |
|
40 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Clippers @ Warriors, Game 6 |
4.493 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
5/1 10:30 PM |
TNT |
|
41 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Nets @ Heat, Game 1 |
4.484 |
2.9 |
1.8 |
5/6 7:00 PM |
TNT |
|
42 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Trailblazers @ Rockets, Game 5 |
4.396 |
2.9 |
2.0 |
4/30 9:30 PM |
TNT |
|
43 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Warriors @ Clippers, Game 1 |
4.362 |
2.8 |
4/19 3:30 PM |
ABC | |
|
44 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Spurs @ Trailblazers, Game 4 |
4.327 |
2.9 |
1.8 |
5/12 10:30 PM |
TNT |
|
45 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Bulls @ Wizards, Game 4 |
4.324 |
2.9 |
4/27 1:00 PM |
ABC | |
|
46 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Rockets @ Trailblazers, Game 6 |
4.253 |
2.9 |
2.0 |
5/2 10:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
47 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Grizzlies @ Thunder, Game 2 |
4.167 |
2.8 |
1.7 |
4/21 8:00 PM |
TNT |
|
47 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Thunder @ Grizzlies, Game 3 |
4.167 |
2.6 |
1.8 |
4/24 8:00 PM |
TNT |
|
49 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Trailblazers @ Rockets, Game 1 |
4.073 |
2.6 |
1.9 |
4/20 9:30 PM |
TNT |
|
50 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Trailblazers @ Rockets, Game 2 |
4.068 |
2.7 |
1.9 |
4/23 9:47 PM |
TNT |
|
51 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Wizards @ Bulls, Game 5 |
4.021 |
2.7 |
1.7 |
4/29 8:00 PM |
TNT |
|
52 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Wizards @ Pacers, Game 2 |
3.974 |
2.7 |
1.5 |
5/7 7:00 PM |
TNT |
|
53 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Spurs @ Mavericks, Game 3 |
3.955 |
2.4 |
1.7 |
4/26 4:46 PM |
TNT |
|
54 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Wizards @ Bulls, Game 1 |
3.932 |
2.4 |
1.6 |
4/20 7:00 PM |
TNT |
|
55 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Spurs @ Mavericks, Game 4 |
3.921 |
2.6 |
1.8 |
4/28 9:30 PM |
TNT |
|
56 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Clippers @ Warriors, Game 3 |
3.875 |
2.5 |
1.8 |
4/24 11:00 PM |
TNT |
|
57 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Thunder @ Grizzlies, Game 6 |
3.844 |
2.5 |
1.6 |
5/1 8:00 PM |
TNT |
|
58 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Wizards @ Bulls, Game 2 |
3.816 |
2.5 |
1.7 |
4/22 9:40 PM |
TNT |
|
59 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Raptors @ Nets, Game 4 |
3.79 |
2.4 |
1.6 |
4/27 7:08 PM |
TNT |
|
60 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Grizzlies @ Thunder, Game 1 |
3.696 |
2.3 |
1.6 |
4/19 9:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
61 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Mavericks @ Spurs, Game 1 |
3.669 |
2.3 |
1.4 |
4/20 1:00 PM |
TNT |
|
62 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Wizards @ Pacers, Game 1 |
3.651 |
2.5 |
1.5 |
5/5 7:00 PM |
TNT |
|
63 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Rockets @ Trailblazers, Game 3 |
3.629 |
2.3 |
1.7 |
4/25 10:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
64 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Hawks @ Pacers, Game 7 |
3.624 |
2.4 |
1.5 |
5/3 5:30 PM |
TNT |
|
65 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Wizards @ Pacers, Game 5 |
3.501 |
2.3 |
1.3 |
5/13 7:00 PM |
TNT |
|
66 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Heat @ Bobcats, Game 3 |
3.425 |
2.0 |
1.5 |
4/26 7:00 PM |
ESPN |
|
67 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Heat @ Bobcats, Game 4 |
3.422 |
2.3 |
1.4 |
4/28 7:00 PM |
TNT |
|
68 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Trailblazers @ Spurs, Game 2 |
3.352 |
2.2 |
1.2 |
5/8 9:30 PM |
ESPN2 |
|
69 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Spurs @ Mavericks, Game 6 |
3.283 |
2.1 |
1.3 |
5/2 8:00 PM |
ESPN |
|
70 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Mavericks @ Spurs, Game 5 |
3.278 |
2.2 |
1.3 |
4/30 7:00 PM |
TNT |
|
71 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Hawks @ Pacers, Game 1 |
3.245 |
2.0 |
1.3 |
4/19 7:00 PM |
ESPN |
|
72 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Pacers @ Wizards, Game 3 |
3.228 |
2.2 |
1.2 |
5/9 8:00 PM |
ESPN |
|
73 |
NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Spurs @ Trailblazers, Game 3 |
3.15 |
1.9 |
1.3 |
5/10 10:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
74 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Warriors @ Clippers, Game 2 |
3.139 |
2.1 |
1.5 |
4/21 11:13 PM |
TNT |
|
75 |
NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals: Nets @ Heat, Game 2 |
3.008 |
2.0 |
1.1 |
5/8 7:00 PM |
ESPN2 |
|
76 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Pacers @ Hawks, Game 4 |
2.974 |
1.9 |
1.2 |
4/26 2:08 PM |
TNT |
|
77 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Bobcats @ Heat, Game 2 |
2.922 |
2.0 |
1.2 |
4/23 7:09 PM |
TNT |
|
78 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Bulls @ Wizards, Game 3 |
2.783 |
1.8 |
1.1 |
4/25 8:00 PM |
ESPN |
|
79 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Hawks @ Pacers, Game 2 |
2.693 |
1.9 |
1.1 |
4/22 7:09 PM |
TNT |
|
80 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Nets @ Raptors, Game 1 |
2.266 |
1.6 |
1.0 |
4/19 12:30 PM |
ESPN |
|
81 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Raptors @ Nets, Game 3 |
1.264 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
4/25 7:00 PM |
ESPN2 |
|
82 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Raptors @ Nets, Game 6 |
1.193 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
5/2 7:00 PM |
ESPN2 |
|
83 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Pacers @ Hawks, Game 6 |
1.071 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
5/1 7:00 PM |
NBATV |
|
84 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Grizzlies @ Thunder, Game 5 |
0.939 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
4/29 9:00 PM |
NBATV |
|
85 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Pacers @ Hawks, Game 3 |
0.757 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
4/24 7:00 PM |
NBATV |
|
86 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Nets @ Raptors, Game 5 |
0.61 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
4/30 7:30 PM |
NBATV |
|
87 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Hawks @ Pacers, Game 5 |
0.599 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
4/28 8:00 PM |
NBATV |
|
88 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Mavericks @ Spurs, Game 2 |
0.557 |
0.4 |
4/23 8:00 PM |
NBATV | |
|
89 |
NBA Playoffs, First Round: Nets @ Raptors, Game 2 |
0.459 |
0.3 |
4/22 7:30 PM |
NBATV |