NBA Finals ratings have been recorded since 1988. Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals between the Bulls and Jazz is the most watched (35.89 million) NBA Finals game and highest rated (22.3) in the league’s history. How about lowest rated NBA Finals game?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Game 3 of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Heat became the least watched (6.08 million) and lowest rated (3.1) Finals game in NBA history.
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2022 NBA Finals — Warriors vs. Celtics
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/2 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Warriors |
11.90 million |
6.4 |
| 2 |
6/5 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Warriors |
11.91 million |
6.2 |
| 3 |
6/8 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Celtics |
11.52 million |
6.2 |
| 4 |
6/10 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Celtics |
12.06 million |
6.2 |
| 5 |
6/13 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Warriors |
13.03 million |
7.0 |
| 6 |
6/16 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Celtics |
13.99 million |
7.5 |
2021 NBA Finals — Bucks vs. Suns
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
7/6 |
ABC |
Bucks @ Suns |
8.7 million |
4.5 |
| 2 |
7/8 |
ABC |
Bucks @ Suns |
9.59 million |
5.1 |
| 3 |
7/11 |
ABC |
Suns @ Bucks |
9.25 million |
4.7 |
| 4 |
7/14 |
ABC |
Suns @ Bucks |
10.46 million |
5.3 |
| 5 |
7/17 |
ABC |
Bucks @ Suns |
10.02 million |
4.8 |
| 6 |
7/20 |
ABC |
Suns @ Bucks |
12.78 million |
6.6 |
2020 NBA Finals — Lakers vs. Heat
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
9/30 |
ABC |
Heat vs. Lakers |
7.69 million |
4.1 |
| 2 |
10/2 |
ABC |
Heat vs. Lakers |
6.78 million |
3.6 |
| 3 |
10/4 |
ABC |
Lakers vs. Heat |
6.08 million |
3.1 |
| 4 |
10/6 |
ABC |
Lakers vs. Heat |
7.7 million |
4.4 |
| 5 |
10/9 |
ABC |
Heat vs. Lakers |
9.19 million |
4.8 |
| 6 |
10/11 |
ABC |
Lakers vs. Heat |
8.59 million |
4.2 |
All 2020 NBA Finals games were played in the Orlando Bubble at a neutral site.
2019 NBA Finals — Warriors vs. Raptors | NBA Finals Ratings
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
5/30 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Raptors |
13.38 million |
7.9 |
| 2 |
6/2 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Raptors |
13.89 million |
8.0 |
| 3 |
6/5 |
ABC |
Raptors @ Warriors |
13.35 million |
7.8 |
| 4 |
6/7 |
ABC |
Raptors @ Warriors |
12.79 million |
7.6 |
| 5 |
6/10 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Raptors |
18.60 million |
10.6 |
| 6 |
6/13 |
ABC |
Raptors @ Warriors |
18.76 million |
10.7 |
2018 NBA Finals — Warriors vs. Cavaliers
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
5/31 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
17.67 million |
10.0 |
| 2 |
6/3 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
18.47 million |
10.3 |
| 3 |
6/6 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
17.85 million |
10.4 |
| 4 |
6/8 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
16.24 million |
9.3 |
2017 NBA Finals — Warriors vs. Cavaliers
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/1 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
18.74 million |
10.5 |
| 2 |
6/4 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
19.73 million |
10.7 |
| 3 |
6/7 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
20.10 million |
11.3 |
| 4 |
6/9 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
19.06 million |
10.7 |
| 5 |
6/12 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
24.53 million |
13.5 |
2016 NBA Finals — Cavaliers vs. Warriors
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/2 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
19.20 million |
11.1 |
| 2 |
6/5 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
17.49 million |
9.8 |
| 3 |
6/8 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
16.47 million |
9.7 |
| 4 |
6/10 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
16.57 million |
9.8 |
| 5 |
6/13 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
20.53 million |
11.8 |
| 6 |
6/16 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
20.7 million |
11.8 |
| 7 |
6/19 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
31.02 million |
15.8 |
2015 NBA Finals — Warriors vs. Cavaliers
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/4 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
17.77 million |
10.6 |
| 2 |
6/7 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
19.17 million |
10.8 |
| 3 |
6/9 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
18.77 million |
11.1 |
| 4 |
6/11 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
19.84 million |
11.7 |
| 5 |
6/14 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Warriors |
20.86 million |
11.8 |
| 6 |
6/16 |
ABC |
Warriors @ Cavaliers |
23.25 million |
13.4 |
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2014 NBA Finals — Spurs vs. Heat
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/5 |
ABC |
Heat @ Spurs |
14.85 million |
9.0 |
| 2 |
6/8 |
ABC |
Heat @ Spurs |
15.13 million |
9.0 |
| 3 |
6/10 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Heat |
14.78 million |
9.0 |
| 4 |
6/12 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Heat |
14.96 million |
9.3 |
| 5 |
6/15 |
ABC |
Heat @ Spurs |
18 million |
10.3 |
2013 NBA Finals — Heat vs. Spurs
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/6 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Heat |
14.24 million |
8.8 |
| 2 |
6/9 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Heat |
14.57 million |
8.5 |
| 3 |
6/11 |
ABC |
Heat @ Spurs |
14.05 million |
8.5 |
| 4 |
6/13 |
ABC |
Heat @ Spurs |
16.23 million |
10.0 |
| 5 |
6/16 |
ABC |
Heat @ Spurs |
16.27 million |
9.5 |
| 6 |
6/18 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Heat |
20.64 million |
12.3 |
| 7 |
6/20 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Heat |
26.32 million |
15.3 |
2012 NBA Finals — Heat vs. Thunder
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/12 |
ABC |
Heat @ Thunder |
16.20 million |
9.9 |
| 2 |
6/14 |
ABC |
Heat @ Thunder |
16.67 million |
10.4 |
| 3 |
6/17 |
ABC |
Thunder @ Heat |
15.45 million |
8.8 |
| 4 |
6/19 |
ABC |
Thunder @ Heat |
17.46 million |
10.5 |
| 5 |
6/21 |
ABC |
Thunder @ Heat |
18.46 million |
10.9 |
2011 NBA Finals — Mavericks vs. Heat
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
5/31 |
ABC |
Mavericks @ Heat |
15.17 million |
9.0 |
| 2 |
6/2 |
ABC |
Mavericks @ Heat |
15.52 million |
9.3 |
| 3 |
6/5 |
ABC |
Heat @ Mavericks |
15.34 million |
9.1 |
| 4 |
6/7 |
ABC |
Heat @ Mavericks |
16.13 million |
9.6 |
| 5 |
6/9 |
ABC |
Heat @ Mavericks |
18.32 million |
10.8 |
| 6 |
6/12 |
ABC |
Mavericks @ Heat |
23.88 million |
13.3 |
2010 NBA Finals — Lakers vs. Celtics | NBA Finals Ratings
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/3 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Lakers |
14.09 million |
8.6 |
| 2 |
6/6 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Lakers |
15.72 million |
9.2 |
| 3 |
6/8 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Celtics |
15.96 million |
9.6 |
| 4 |
6/10 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Celtics |
16.37 million |
9.9 |
| 5 |
6/13 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Celtics |
18.65 million |
10.8 |
| 6 |
6/15 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Lakers |
17.96 million |
10.4 |
| 7 |
6/17 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Lakers |
28.20 million |
15.6 |
2009 NBA Finals — Lakers vs. Magic
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/4 |
ABC |
Magic @ Lakers |
13.04 million |
7.8 |
| 2 |
6/7 |
ABC |
Magic @ Lakers |
14.06 million |
8.2 |
| 3 |
6/9 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Magic |
14.20 million |
8.6 |
| 4 |
6/11 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Magic |
15.96 million |
9.4 |
| 5 |
6/14 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Magic |
14.17 million |
8.0 |
2008 NBA Finals — Celtics vs. Lakers
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/5 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Celtics |
13.38 million |
8.7 |
| 2 |
6/8 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Celtics |
13.50 million |
8.5 |
| 3 |
6/10 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Lakers |
14.51 million |
9.2 |
| 4 |
6/12 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Lakers |
13.76 million |
8.7 |
| 5 |
6/15 |
ABC |
Celtics @ Lakers |
17.39 million |
10.2 |
| 6 |
6/17 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Celtics |
16.88 million |
10.7 |
2007 NBA Finals — Spurs vs. Cavaliers
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/7 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Spurs |
9.21 million |
6.3 |
| 2 |
6/10 |
ABC |
Cavaliers @ Spurs |
8.55 million |
5.6 |
| 3 |
6/12 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Cavaliers |
9.49 million |
6.4 |
| 4 |
6/14 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Cavaliers |
9.91 million |
6.5 |
2006 NBA Finals — Heat vs. Mavericks | NBA Finals Ratings
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/8 |
ABC |
Heat @ Mavericks |
11.51 million |
7.8 |
| 2 |
6/11 |
ABC |
Heat @ Mavericks |
12.41 million |
8.0 |
| 3 |
6/13 |
ABC |
Mavericks @ Heat |
12.25 million |
8.0 |
| 4 |
6/15 |
ABC |
Mavericks @ Heat |
11.56 million |
7.8 |
| 5 |
6/18 |
ABC |
Mavericks @ Heat |
14.32 million |
9.1 |
| 6 |
6/20 |
ABC |
Heat @ Mavericks |
15.71 million |
10.1 |
2005 NBA Finals — Pistons vs. Spurs
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/9 |
ABC |
Pistons @ Spurs |
11.90 million |
7.2 |
| 2 |
6/12 |
ABC |
Pistons @ Spurs |
11.91 million |
6.9 |
| 3 |
6/14 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Pistons |
11.52 million |
7.2 |
| 4 |
6/16 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Pistons |
12.06 million |
7.2 |
| 5 |
6/19 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Pistons |
13.03 million |
8.4 |
| 6 |
6/21 |
ABC |
Pistons @ Spurs |
13.47 million |
8.8 |
| 7 |
6/23 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Pistons |
19 million |
11.9 |
2004 NBA Finals — Pistons vs. Lakers
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/6 |
ABC |
Pistons @ Lakers |
15.36 million |
9.8 |
| 2 |
6/8 |
ABC |
Pistons @ Lakers |
16.13 million |
10.7 |
| 3 |
6/10 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Pistons |
16.21 million |
10.5 |
| 4 |
6/13 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Pistons |
20.30 million |
12.7 |
| 5 |
6/15 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Pistons |
21.84 million |
13.8 |
2003 NBA Finals — Spurs vs. Nets
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/4 |
ABC |
Nets @ Spurs |
9.60 million |
6.4 |
| 2 |
6/6 |
ABC |
Nets @ Spurs |
8.06 million |
5.2 |
| 3 |
6/8 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Nets |
10.76 million |
7.0 |
| 4 |
6/11 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Nets |
9.66 million |
6.6 |
| 5 |
6/13 |
ABC |
Spurs @ Nets |
9.31 million |
6.2 |
| 6 |
6/15 |
ABC |
Nets @ Spurs |
11.57 million |
7.5 |
2002 NBA Finals — Lakers vs. Nets
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/5 |
ABC |
Nets @ Lakers |
15.85 million |
10.6 |
| 2 |
6/7 |
ABC |
Nets @ Lakers |
14.05 million |
9.1 |
| 3 |
6/9 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Nets |
16.21 million |
10.2 |
| 4 |
6/12 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Nets |
16.56 million |
10.8 |
2001 NBA Finals — Lakers vs. 76ers | NBA Finals Ratings
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/6 |
ABC |
76ers @ Lakers |
18.58 million |
12.4 |
| 2 |
6/8 |
ABC |
76ers @ Lakers |
18.72 million |
11.6 |
| 3 |
6/10 |
ABC |
Lakers @ 76ers |
20.28 million |
12.7 |
| 4 |
6/13 |
ABC |
Lakers @ 76ers |
19.97 million |
12.6 |
| 5 |
6/15 |
ABC |
Lakers @ 76ers |
17.36 million |
11.2 |
2000 NBA Finals — Lakers vs. Pacers
Game
|
Date
|
Network
|
Matchup
|
Viewers
|
Rating
|
| 1 |
6/7 |
ABC |
Pacers @ Lakers |
15.34 million |
10.5 |
| 2 |
6/9 |
ABC |
Pacers @ Lakers |
14.97 million |
9.9 |
| 3 |
6/11 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Pacers |
16.37 million |
10.7 |
| 4 |
6/14 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Pacers |
18.94 million |
13.1 |
| 5 |
6/16 |
ABC |
Lakers @ Pacers |
15.57 million |
10.0 |
| 6 |
6/19 |
ABC |
Pacers @ Lakers |
22.40 million |
14.7 |
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