ABC and ESPN delivered the largest NBA Finals Game 3 audience since 1998, with 23.8 million viewers tuning in for the contest. This viewership milestone marks a significant achievement for the league and its broadcast partners, as it represents the highest engagement for a third game of the championship series in over two decades.
The 23.8 million viewers recorded for this game surpasses every other Game 3 broadcast since the 1998 NBA Finals. That historic series, which featured the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, has long served as the gold standard for basketball television ratings. Reaching these viewership levels in the modern era indicates a massive audience for the current championship matchup.
According to broadcast data from ABC and ESPN, the game has set a new modern benchmark for the league. The 1998 comparison highlights the scale of this year's audience, as the NBA continues to see strong performance across its primary television platforms. This surge in viewership reinforces the league's position as a dominant force in live sports programming, rivaling historical figures from the sport's most-watched eras.
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