NBA playoffs: Kings-Warriors Game 4 draws highest first-round TV ratings since 2002 Lakers
More than 10 million viewers tuned in to watch the Kings play the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Sunday at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The Warriors prevailed 126-125 to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2 going into Game 5 on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. ABC’s broadcast of the game generated the largest audience for a first-round NBA playoff game in 21 years, ESPN announced Tuesday.
According to Nielsen, the broadcast averaged 7,523,000 viewers, peaking with 10,406,000 viewers during the 6 p.m. ET quarter hour. The game was the most-watched program across all of television Sunday, including in all key demographics.
It was also the most-watched first-round NBA playoff game since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal led the Los Angeles Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 28, 2002. That game averaged over 8.5 million viewers.
Fans have been treated to a physical, contentious and wildly entertaining series between Northern California rivals. The Kings are appearing in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The defending champion Warriors are trying to win their fifth title in nine years.
Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox has gone toe-to-toe with Warriors star Stephen Curry, but now his status is in doubt. Fox is listed as doubtful for Game 5 after suffering an avulsion fracture in his left index finger in Game 4.
According to sportsmediawatch.com, Game 4 in the Kings-Warriors series also ranked as the most-watched NBA telecast this season, topping Game 1 of the series on April 15. That game averaged 6.26 million viewers. The website noted that the Kings-Warriors series accounts for four of the 10 largest NBA audiences this season, a list that includes three Christmas Day games, Game 1 in the Los Angeles Lakers-Memphis Grizzlies series and Game 1 in the Los Angeles Clippers-Phoenix Suns series.
