NBA Finals ratings: Pacers-Thunder thriller posts worst Game 1 numbers since league's COVID-19 downturn
The concerns about the small-market NBA Finals didn't prevent the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder from delivering a classic in Game 1. They do, however, seem to have impacted ratings as expected.
Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals averaged a 4.7 rating and 8.91 million viewers on ABC, making it the least-watched Game 1 of the Nielsen meter era (since 1988) outside of the league's COVID-19-fueled ratings nadir in 2020 and 2021, according to Sports Media Watch.
Advertisement
Those numbers are an 18% ratings decline and 19% viewership decline from last year's NBA Finals opener in which the Boston Celtics faced the Dallas Mavericks. The decline would have been worse had Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers not launched a furious comeback in the final minutes to stun the Thunder.
Those numbers seemingly vindicate what many have said about a clash between teams from the 25th and 47th largest markets in the Nielsen rankings, with Oklahoma City's mayor bristling at those concerns ahead of the game.
No matter how many people watched, Game 1 of Pacers-Thunder was a fun one. (Photo by Kyle Terada - Pool/Getty Images)
(Pool via Getty Images)
Of course, it's also important to maintain perspective about how much ratings matter. Sure, the NBA would love if 100% of households were tuning into its signature event, but the league just finalized $76 billion in television deals for the next 11 season. While ratings are down, the league extracts value from many other areas. Your favorite team will be fine. Your favorite player will be fine.
Advertisement
NBA's PR team also pointed to some positives, such as the broadcast reaching 11 million viewers by the time Haliburton made his game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left, strong viewership among the 18-to-34-year-old demographic and a record number of views on social media.
The Pacers' win could aid ratings down the line, as many viewers might not have tuned in due to how lopsided the series was perceived to be. The Thunder opened as a -800 favorite to win their first title in OKC, the best odds since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.
The Thunder have been so dominant this season that even down 1-0, they are still -350 favorites to win it all. They aren't unstoppable, though, and plenty of fans could be interested in either a comeback or one of the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
BetMGM bonus code POSTBET for $1,500 in bonus bets for the rest of the NBA Finals
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The NBA Finals started with a stunner. The Indiana Pacers won Game 1 by one point, 111-110, in an instant classic. Despite the win, the Pacers are still a big underdog to win the best-of-seven series, which continues Sunday night. The folks at BetMGM are offering new users an offer to get your first bet back in bonus bets if your first bet doesn't win, up to $1,500, for the 2025 NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder. BetMGM bonus code POSTBET for the NBA Finals Use BetMGM bonus code POSTBET to get your first bet back in bonus bets if your first bet doesn't win, up to $1,500. BetMGM Sportsbook is legal in Arizona, Colorado, Washington D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. How to sign up at BetMGM sportsbook Select your bonus offer. Choose your state. Fill out your login details. Enter the promo code POSTBET. Make a deposit. What our Post expert thinks about the NBA Finals It says an awful lot about how good the Oklahoma City Thunder have been this season when they lose Game 1 at home and are still -330 favorites to win the NBA Finals. One thing is for sure, however: The Indiana Pacers will not go quietly. A win on Sunday would put Indiana in the driver's seat for the rest of the series. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Participant must complete the Wagering. Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. US Promotional Offers Not Available in MS, NY, ON, or PR. Visit for Terms & Conditions.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Pickleball facilities pop up across East Tennessee as participation booms
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Dozens of new pickleball facilities are opening here in East Tennessee as the sport is taking the country by storm. Second Harvest Food Bank is hosting a tournament at the Pavilion of Pickleball in West Knoxville at the Cedar Bluff Racquet Club raising money for the food bank. It's one of the fastest growing sports in the country. That's no different here in East Tennessee as more and more people start picking up the sport. Elize Kikkert and Elizabeth Bentley-Shelton both work at the Pavilion of Pickleball that opened nearly five years ago. 'People really flock to this because it was an activity that they could do. For a while we had a lot of members because we were the only indoor facility in Knoxville,' said Pavilion of Pickleball General Manager Elize Kikkert. 'Now, because we have more [places to play], it's spread out a little bit more because people from Maryville don't have to drive a long way here so they go to other places that are closer to them.' Powell Courts reopen with new pickleball area, basketball upgrades The sport has grown exponentially over the last several years, leading to tournaments that draw hundreds of players, like the one Second Harvest is hosting. The sport once tabbed as one for the older generation has turned younger in recent years leading to increased competition. 'It mixes around, you know, old people play with the young people,' Kikkert said. 'I think it's changed the game of Pickleball a little bit though because the younger people tend to hit it a lot harder, so I think it changed the dynamics of the game a little bit. Overall, it's very fun to see.' Pickleball also proves that age is just a number when it comes to staying active and having fun. 'During my play, we've got a homeschool group and the Summer Cathleagues doing their summer sports camp here,' Assistant General Manager Elizabeth Bentley-Shelton said. 'When I first started working for the Knoxville City Parks and Rec, one lady that came and played was 93-years-old and I played with her. Another man was 92 and he was amazing, both of them. Like Elize said, it's from little to big.' 'It always just feels like home': Hendon Hooker draws inspiration from youth football camp in Knoxville When POP first opened during Covid, it was a way for people to get out and socialize while getting exercise as well. On the court, strangers become friends and the more people you play with the bigger the community will grow. 'These are people at first you never knew and now big buddies with them. My contact list on my phone that says pickleball, pickleball, pickleball is unreal,' Bentley-Shelton said. 'It's crazy and everybody likes everybody, we're all friendly that's the good thing.' The Pavilion of Pickleball may have been the first indoor facility to open in Knoxville, but several others have followed suit. In Karns, the Pickleball Playground recently opened along with Big Orange Pickleball in Strawberry Plains, Premiere Pickleball Club Knoxville and Pickleville off Topside Rd. in Louisville. ▶ See more top stories on There are also plenty of outdoor courts at many area parks including West Hills, Lakeshore Park and Sam Duff Park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC Sports
2 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Pacers vs. Thunder Game 2 Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for June 8
On Sunday, June 8, the Indiana Pacers (50-32) and Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) are all set to square off from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City for Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Indiana continued its miraculous playoff run with another fourth-quarter rally to steal a Game 1. Tyrese Haliburton hit his fourth Game 1 game-winner with a two-point jump shot over Cason Wallace with 0.3 seconds remaining to win 111-110. Haliburton (14 points, 10 rebounds) and the Pacers overcame Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's game-high 38 points and multiple double-digit leads throughout. The Thunder entered the fourth quarter with a 9-point lead and ended the game efficiently in many areas, including free-throws (21-of-24) and turnovers (6). Both teams won all three of their Game 2's this postseason and went 3-0 against the spread. We've got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts. Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts. Game details & how to watch Pacers vs. Thunder live today Date: Sunday, June 8, 2025 Time: 8:00PM EST Site: Paycom Center City: Oklahoma City, OK Network/Streaming: ESPN / ABC Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game. Game odds for Pacers vs. Thunder The latest odds as of Sunday: Odds: Pacers(+390), Thunder (-520) Spread: Thunder -11 Over/Under: 228.5 points That gives the Pacers an implied team point total of 108.5, and the Thunder 120.5. Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports' Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more! Expert picks & predictions for Sunday's Pacers vs. Thunder game Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals. Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager. Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today's Pacers & Thunder game: Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline. Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at +11 Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 228.5 Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today's calendar! Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pacers vs. Thunder on Sunday Indiana is 3-0 ATS and on the ML in Game 2's of the playoffs Oklahoma City is 3-0 ATS and on the ML in Game 2's of the playoffs Pascal Siakam (19 points, 10 rebounds), Aaron Nesmith (10 points, 12 rebounds), and Tyrese Haliburton (14 points, 10 rebounds) double-doubled in Game 1 for Indiana Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 38 points in Game 1 Jalen Williams and Tyrese Haliburton are tied for the series lead in assists with 6 If you're looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports! Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: - Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) - Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) - Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) - Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
