- Largest Game 1 audience on ABC ever excluding the Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland
- Cavaliers NBA Finalsmatchups
Viewership up 90% from last year’s Game 1
The New Yorks Knicks victory over the San Antonio Spurs on June 3 was ABC’s most-watched NBA Finals Game 1 since 2018 – according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Game 1 generated an average audience of nearly 17M viewers (16.93M) and peaked with nearly 20M viewers (19.63M) at 11 p.m. ET.
The Knicks vs. Spurs series-opening game was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 1 ever on ABC excluding the Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchups. Viewership was up 90% from last year’s Game 1.
NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC was the most-watched program of the day across all of television and in all key male and adult demos for June 3. It was also the most-watched NBA Finals game since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.
ESPN’s coverage of the 2026 NBA Finals on ABC continues tonight, June 5, with Game 2 at 8:30 p.m. For the full schedule, visit ESPNPressRoom.com. ESPN has produced the NBA Finals on ABC since 2003.
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ESPN media contacts: ben.cafardo@espn.com; ronce.rajan@espn.com.