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New York Post
23-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Wild Knicks-Pacers Game 1 was huge ratings boon not seen in seven years
Drama between the Knicks and Pacers turned into ratings gold for TNT, which aired the opening game of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night. The Pacers' comeback win, which broke Knicks fans' hearts and delighted their Indiana counterparts, averaged 6.6 million viewers and peaked at 8.5 million at 11 p.m., the network announced less than 24 hours after the 'instant classic.' Advertisement The viewership for the game was the most-watched Eastern Conference finals Game 1 in seven years, since the Cavaliers with LeBron James faced the Celtics in 2018 on ABC to an average audience of 7.24 million viewers. 3 Obi Toppin scores on a layup from behind the basket in the third quarter of the Knicks' Game 1 loss to the Pacers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The Knicks-Pacers series has seen a 2 percent increase in viewership over last year's Pacers-Celtics series, which aired on ESPN and ESPN 2 and averaged 6.4 million viewers, Sports Media Watch reported. The spike in viewers during Wednesday's game naturally occurred right around the time of the game's exciting OT finish. Advertisement The NBA is likely happy to see the Pacers and Knicks meeting in the conference finals after the two ran into each other in the playoffs last season, reigniting a classic rivalry that was at its height in the 1990s. The series between the rivals also marks the final NBA playoff set — or games for that matter — that will air on TNT. 3 Mikal Bridges cannot hold onto the ball and loses it out of bounds in the final second of the Knicks' Game 1 overtime loss to the Pacers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Advertisement Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. The cable channel is in its final days broadcasting the NBA before the league packs up its basketballs and heads over to NBC and Amazon's Prime Video as part of a new media rights deal that kicks in next season. The new deal will see conference finals games rotate between NBC and the streaming service. 3 Tyrese Haliburton makes a choking gesture as he celebrates with his teammates after he hits a game-tying jump shot at the buzzer in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime. Jason Szenes / New York Post Advertisement Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and Stan Van Gundy will all be on the call for the remainder of the series as TNT ends its run of broadcasting the NBA.
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Knicks-Pacers Game 1 Draws NBA's Biggest Audience in Nearly a Decade
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers was one for the ages. More NBA news: Spurs Preferred Plan For No. 2 Pick Revealed: Report It was arguably the best game of the year, and it ended with the Pacers coming back in dramatic fashion, as they've done all season long. With 4:55 left in the fourth quarter, the Knicks were up by 15 points and had a 99.7 percent chance to come away with the win. What happened next, no one but Pacer fans who have seen it time and time again can explain. The Pacers are the definition of never-say-die, and not only was the contest worth watching, but Game 1 was the most-watched Eastern Conference Finals opener since the Cleveland Cavaliers played the Boston Celtics on ABC in 2018. The Indiana Pacers celebrate a basket against the New York Knicks during overtime in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2025 in... The Indiana Pacers celebrate a basket against the New York Knicks during overtime in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2025 in New York City. More Photo by"Wednesday's Pacers-Knicks NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 averaged a 3.5 rating and 6.6 million viewers across TNT and truTV, flat in ratings and up 2% in viewership from Pacers-Celtics on ESPN and ESPN2 last year (3.5, 6.4M) and the most-watched Game 1 of the ECF since Cavaliers-Celtics on ABC in 2018 (7.24M). It is also tied as the highest rated over that span," wrote Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch. More NBA news: Lakers Superstar Luka Doncic Reportedly Turning Page With Conditioning Plan Indiana's comeback victory, which peaked at 8.5 million viewers during the 11 PM ET quarter-hour, stands as the third most-watched conference finals opener since 2019 (out of 12 total). It trails only last year's Mavericks-Timberwolves and Lakers-Nuggets matchups, both of which aired on ESPN platforms in 2023 and drew 7.36 million viewers. Game 1 was arguably one of the most chaotic and thrilling contests of the postseason. Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith caught fire for Indiana, knocking down six three-pointers in under five minutes. The Knicks had a chance to seal it late, but OG Anunoby missed a critical free throw that would have pushed the lead to three. On the ensuing possession, Tyrese Haliburton came through in the clutch, drilling a game-tying two that added another chapter to his rising playoff legacy. In overtime, the two teams traded the lead several times before Indiana ultimately came out on top, snatching Game 1 right out of New York's hands. It felt like three games packed into one, and if there was any doubt about the intensity of this series, it just got erased. This matchup has already exceeded expectations. More NBA news: Ben Stiller Weighs in on Pacers-Knicks Game 1 Drama Knicks Almost Had Near-Perfect Win Probability Before Pacers Stole Game 1 Lakers Likely Trade Package for Center Reportedly Revealed For more Knicks, Pacers, NBA news, and rumors, stay tuned to Newsweek Sports.
