The NBA’s Western Conference Finals is surging to the finish line.
Game 6 of the Warriors/Thunder NBA West finals scored a 6.2 rating and 10.8 million viewers on TNT Saturday night, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 27% in ratings and 32% in viewership from Spurs/Thunder in 2014 (4.9, 8.2M). There was no Game 6 in last year’s conference finals.
Golden State’s comeback win, which peaked at an 8.3 and 14.6 million from 11:30-11:45 PM ET, ranks as the highest rated and most-watched Game 6 of the WCF since Kings/Lakers on NBC in 2002 (11.1, 16.6M). Regardless of conference, it was the top Game 6 since Heat/Celtics on ESPN in 2012 (6.8, 11.1M).
Overall, Game 6 ranks as the most-watched Western Conference playoff game of any kind since Lakers/Kings Game 7 in ’02 (23.8M) and the highest rated since Spurs/Lakers in the 2003 semifinals (6.5). The previous highs were set by Game 5 of the series on Thursday night (6.1, 10.0M).
With Eastern Conference games included, it ranks seventh both among playoff games since 2002 and games on cable all-time. In both cases, each of the top six featured LeBron James‘ Miami Heat.
Game 6 edged Game 5 as the highest rated NBA game of the season, but could not take top honors in viewership. The top spot still belongs to Cavaliers/Warriors on ABC Christmas Day, which had 11.2 million.
Entering Monday’s seventh game, the Warriors/Thunder series has averaged a 5.4 rating and 9.0 million viewers on TNT — up 29% in ratings and 32% in viewership from the last two conference finals on TNT, last year’s Cavaliers/Hawks sweep and the six-game Spurs/Thunder series in 2014 (4.2, 6.8M).
(Sat. numbers from Turner Sports)