The NBA season started with a bang! Fans were treated to a thrilling double-overtime game where the Oklahoma City Thunder narrowly beat the Houston Rockets 125-124. This was followed by a highly anticipated clash between two popular teams, the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
These exciting games led to the highest viewership for an October opening night in 15 years, showing a big jump in fan interest compared to last year. The successful broadcast of the games on a major TV network also played a significant part in reaching more viewers across different platforms.
🏀 A Record-Breaking Start
The opening night doubleheader attracted an average of 5.61 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA season start in October for 15 years. This represents a massive 87% increase in viewership from last year’s opening night, signaling a very strong start for the league this season.
⚡ Thrilling Double-Overtime Action
The first game, featuring the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder against the Houston Rockets, was a huge draw. It averaged 5.85 million viewers, with numbers peaking at an incredible 7.1 million during the exciting double-overtime finish. This was the most-watched early game on opening night since 2010, when LeBron James played his first game for Miami.
⭐ Star Power Shines in Late Game
The second matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers also performed very well, with an average of 5.11 million viewers. As the most-viewed late game of the evening, it highlighted the immense popularity of these two teams and their star players, attracting a large audience to cap off the night.
