NEW YORK (AP) — NBA games on Christmas Day drew the largest audience in five years, with viewership up 87% compared to last year, according to Nielsen. The five games averaged 5.34 million viewers across ESPN, ABC, Disney+, and ESPN+, nearly matching the 2019 record.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ primetime win over the Golden State Warriors was the most-watched game, averaging 7.91 million viewers, a 511% jump from last year’s comparable matchup. The game peaked at 8.45 million viewers.
The San Antonio Spurs’ game against the New York Knicks at noon attracted 5 million viewers, the highest for that time slot in 13 years. The late-night game between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets set a Christmas record for the time slot, drawing 3.9 million viewers, up 165% from last year.
Other matchups also saw increases. The Philadelphia 76ers’ win over the Boston Celtics drew 5.24 million viewers, and the Dallas Mavericks’ victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves averaged 4.45 million viewers, both up from last year.
Overall, NBA games on ESPN platforms are averaging 1.96 million viewers this season, up 5% from last year. The pregame show NBA Countdown has also grown, with viewership up 22%.
For the first time, all five games were available on multiple platforms, helping the NBA deliver a record-breaking holiday event.
