{"id":1458,"date":"2024-12-30T05:00:44","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T09:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/nba-ratings-soar-with-record-breaking-christmas-games\/"},"modified":"2024-12-30T05:00:46","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T09:00:46","slug":"nba-ratings-soar-with-record-breaking-christmas-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/nba-ratings-soar-with-record-breaking-christmas-games\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Ratings Soar with Record-Breaking Christmas Games!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A Holiday Season Wonder?<\/p>\n

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Amid ongoing discussions about a possible decline in NBA viewership, the league enjoyed its highest-rated Christmas Day broadcast in the past five years this Wednesday, with an average of 5.25 million viewers tuning in per game in the U.S., marking an 84% increase in viewership across various platforms.<\/p>\n

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Leading the charge was the thrilling contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, featuring a showdown between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, which culminated in a close 115\u2013113 score. This matchup drew an audience of 7.76 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA regular season and Christmas Day game in five years.<\/p>\n

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The NBA’s Christmas Day games have not seen such high viewership in five years, with a dramatic 84% increase compared to last year, spanning ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+. The games averaged 5.25 million U.S. viewers each, with the @Lakers<\/a> vs @Warriors<\/a> game being a standout. pic.twitter.com\/VjfjL8XQSU<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\u2014 NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 26, 2024<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Other matchups including New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks, and Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns also experienced significant increases in viewership compared to last year\u2019s same time slots.<\/p>\n

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This viewership surge represents a significant boost for the NBA, which has been countering claims of decreasing interest and declining ratings. This achievement is especially notable given the stiff competition from the NFL and Netflix, which both featured major events and a celebrity-filled halftime show on the same day, also drawing substantial audiences.<\/p>\n

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Nevertheless, the NBA prevailed. The games not only captured considerable attention but were also highly competitive, with an average game margin of just 5 points, the narrowest ever in a Christmas lineup of five or more games, according to NBA statistics.<\/p>\n

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TIGHTEST #NBAXmas<\/a> IN HISTORY.<\/p>\n

Knicks vs. Spurs showdown
Timberwolves’ last-minute victory
76ers’ comeback in Boston
Lakers clinch a win
Suns powered by stellar performances<\/p>\n

Average victory margin today was only 5 points, the closest for a Christmas Day with more than five games. pic.twitter.com\/ZAi9Lc7ic4<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\u2014 NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2024<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The players themselves made clear statements about the day. LeBron James, after his team’s victory over the Warriors, declared to reporter Lisa Salters, “I love the NFL, but Christmas is our day.”<\/p>\n

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Additional NBA Updates<\/h2>\n

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