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Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals averaged 8.76 million viewers on ABC, which was down 29 percent from Game 2 in 2024. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers by a comfortable 123-107 margin.

The game was the least watched Game 2 of the Finals, outside of the bubble in 2020, since 2007 when the San Antonio Spurs' win over the Cleveland Cavaliers drew 8.55 million despite competing against the series finale of "The Sopranos."

There was some hope of a bounce in ratings after the Pacers had an exciting comeback win over the Thunder in Game 2.

The Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals now ranks as only the second of the Nielsen people meter era (1988-present) in which neither Game 1 nor Game 2 hit the nine million mark. The Finals between the Cavaliers-Spurs in 2007 and Nets-Spurs in 2003 each hit nine million for Game 1 or 2. 

However, this year's series still outranks everything else on television.

Via Jon Lewis/SportsMediaWatch

It looks like basketball fans have let the league know what they think about small-market teams in the NBA finals.

"However, this year's series still outranks everything else on television."


So what is this "Story" even about? the extrapolated number of people watching has gone down, but so has everyone elses numbers and still the nba Finals are the Most watched thing on TV right now? (at least According to These extrapolated numbers).

Knick4Real wrote:It looks like basketball fans have let the league know what they think about small-market teams in the NBA finals.

no, Basketball Fans are watching. the casual "Fans" arent watching.

The key takeaways I have from this:

• People just don't watch TV as much anymore - pretty understandable as there are so many more types of media and ways to consume media nowadays
• Despite doomsayers and naysayers, the NBA seems to be in a great spot - despite a 30% drop it's still the most watched thing on TV. If you consider streaming, YouTube, social media engagement, etc., I would go as far as to say it has never been more popular and more "followed"/engaged with.
• Most (or at least 30% more) of the NBA fans are a bunch of casuals who prefer soap opera and "reality" shows vs. watching and understanding actual sports
• All of the flat-earthers, anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists whining "the NBA is rigged" have been proven stupendously wrong and delusional yet again

Who cares if it’s down if it’s “the most watched thing on tv” that’s shows everything else is down as well.