The Dallas Mavericks missed Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but neither did viewers.
Thursday's Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Mavericks and Celtics averaged a 5.7 rating and 10.99 million viewers on ABC (11.04 million, including 43,000 on ESPN Deportes), beating only two COVID-era series in 2020 (Heat-Lakers: 4.1, 7.69 million) and 2021 (Bucks-Suns: 4.5, 8.7 million) as the least-watched Game 1 of the Finals since 2007.
Last year's Heat vs. Nuggets Game 1 drew 6 million and 11.58 million viewers on ABC and ESPN2, respectively, but the ratings were down 5%. Compared to the last Finals featuring the Celtics (2022, Warriors vs. Celtics), the ratings were down 11% from 6.4 million and 11.9 million, and the viewership was down 8%.
Despite declines in ratings and viewership, Game 1 averaged higher percentages of total viewers (20%) and adults aged 18-34 (50%) than other Finals openers on ABC. (Percentages (the percentage of households or viewers with television who are watching during an average minute) tend to increase as television ratings decrease.)
The Celtics' 18-point victory tied the Lakers' win over Miami inside the “bubble” in 2020 as the most one-sided Finals opener since 2017. Ratings and viewership peaked at 6.2 million and 12.11 million, respectively, in the 15 minutes from 9:15 a.m., but dropped sharply toward the end, dropping to 4.8 million and 9.01 million, respectively, in the 15 minutes from 10:45 a.m.
Ratings for Game 1 were 3.5 among adults 18-49, 2.9 among 18-34 and 4.0 among 25-54, down 6, 9 and 6 percent, respectively, from last year (3.7, 3.2 and 4.2).
This marks the sixth consecutive year that the NBA Finals have opened with fewer than 14 million viewers, the longest streak since the seven-year stretch from 2003 to 2009.
