NBA Finals ratings rise for Game 3; series still down

The viewership numbers made a modest comeback in Game 3 on Wednesday night as the Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
The game in Indianapolis averaged 9.19 million viewers on ABC, a 5 percent increase from Game 2, according to a report from Front Office Sports on Friday.
That's still a 20 percent drop from the 11.43 million who watched Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.
It was the least-watched Finals Game 3 since the 2020 COVID 'bubble' year when 6.08 million tuned in for the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers -- a contest that occurred on an NFL Sunday in October.
The Pacers' Game 3 win peaked with 11.54 million viewers during the 11 p.m. ET quarter-hour. That surpassed the final minutes of Game 1 (11.1 million) as the highest point of the series so far.
The three-game average for the best-of-seven series is up to 8.95 million viewers, a 23 percent decline from 2024.
Game 4 is Friday night in Indianapolis and Game 5 is Monday in Oklahoma City.
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USA Today

15 minutes ago

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NBA Finals Game 7 keys to victory: It all starts with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The 2024-25 NBA season – through the promise of a fresh start in October to the dog days of late January to the late-season push for the postseason in late March, early April to the two-month playoffs schedule to determine a champion – comes down to one more game. Game 7 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals on Sunday, June 22 (8 p.m. ET, ABC). Forty-eight minutes – possibly more – between two talented, deep, well-coached and exhausted teams. "One game for everything you ever dreamed of," Thunder star and this season's MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "If you win it, you get everything. If you lose it, you get nothing. It's that simple." Simple in theory. Difficult in practice. Because winning a championship isn't easy. It shouldn't be. One more game. The 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history. Pacers-Thunder. Indiana has never won an NBA title; since relocating to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008, the Thunder have never won a title. "Just really focused on Game 7 and trying to take it just a moment at a time," Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said. "Really enjoying what we're doing. Understanding this is going to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, game most of us ever play in in our lives, and for our organization from a historical standpoint, as well. That's something that you don't take for granted and you enjoy as a competitor." Here's how each team can win Game 7: How Thunder can win NBA Finals Game 7 The MVP needs to play like the MVP, and he can't have more turnovers than made shots as he did in Indiana's Game 6 victory. Making mid-range shots, getting to the rim and free throw line, knocking down the occasional 3-pointers and making sure his teammates are involved. The Thunder are at their best when Gilgeous-Alexander scores around 30 points, five assists, two steals and attempts 10 free throws and has no more than three turnovers. In Indiana's Game 3 victory, the Thunder committed 19 turnovers, and in Indiana's Game 6 victory, the Thunder turned the ball over 21 times. It's one thing if shots are falling, it's another to have that many possessions with a field goal attempt. The Thunder don't need 40 points from Williams like they got from him in Game 5. However, an efficient Jalen Williams who is attacking the basket off the dribble and in transition and scoring 20-plus points while rebounding and collecting assists gives the Thunder a much better chance of winning. It's clear Holmgren needs to be involved offensively. He had just six points in the Game 1 loss and four points in the Game 6 loss and was 4-for-18 from the field in those two games. He's averaging 12.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in Finals victories and 10 points and 7.3 rebounds in Finals losses. The Thunder have used depth to their advantage all season. Getting 3s from Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins is important. Caruso has scored just two points in the past two games and was scoreless in Game 6. Wallace, Caruso and Wiggins were 1-for-6 on 3s in Game 6 and 7-for-14 in Game 5 and 14-for-26 in Game 2. The Thunder are not immune to home losses – they lost Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals to Denver and Game 1 of the NBA Finals to Indiana at home. However, they were 35-6 at home during the regular season and 10-2 during the playoffs. Oklahoma City provides one of the best home crowds in the league, and the Thunder can use that energy. LeBron James often said home-court advantage doesn't mean anything until a Game 7. How the Pacers can win Game 7 Haliburton has a strained calf, and if this were the regular season and even earlier in the playoffs, he might not be playing. But in Game 6 and Game 7 of the Finals, he is. He only played 23 minutes in the Pacers' Game 6 blowout victory and had 14 points, five assists and two steals. That kind of per-minute production should keep the Pacers in the game with a chance to win. The Pacers' improved defense is a major reason they are in this position. They like to pressure the basketball, sometimes full court, and that kind of intensity for four quarters wears down an opponent. Indiana wants to force turnovers, limit Oklahoma City's offensive opportunities and keep Gilgeous-Alexander from dominating with his scoring. In Game 6, the Pacers held the Thunder to 91 points, which is the Thunder's lowest-scoring game of the playoffs and just the second time they didn't reach 100 this postseason. The Pacers have been the best 3-point shooting team percentage-wise in the playoffs (.390) and have made 36.4% against the Thunder in the Finals. In their three Finals victories, they have outscored the Thunder 126-87 on 3-pointers. Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Obi Toppin and Haliburton need to combine for about 15 3-pointers. The Pacers average 14 made 3s in their Finals victories and 12 in their Finals losses. When T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin and Toppin are providing quality minutes, the Pacers are tough to beat. McConnell's bulldog mentality is an important part of Indiana's success. Siakam is the only Pacers player with championship experience (Toronto Raptors, 2019), and he has been a fantastic two-player in this series. If the Pacers win the title, he just might be Finals MVP. He's averaging 19.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks and shooting 46.4% from the field and 82.5% on free throws. Carlisle has extracted the maximum from this roster. Can he yield another victory? He has a great coaching staff, and Carlisle and his assistants have assembled outstanding game plans for this series. He has found ways to get points against Oklahoma City's top-rated defense and slow down the Thunder's No. 3 offense. 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USA Today

25 minutes ago

• USA Today

'I'm falling asleep': Fighters react to Khalil Rountree beating Jamahal Hill at UFC on ABC 8

LOCKED IN 🔒The main & co-main fighters have ARRIVED! 📍[ #UFCBaku LIVE NOW on ABC ] Khalil Rountree Jr. earned arguably the biggest win of his career Saturday at UFC on ABC 8 against Jamahal Hill. Rountree Jr. (14-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) added the name of a former light heavyweight champion to his resume when he bested Jamahal Hill (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) by unanimous decision in the headlining act at Crystal Palace Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Rountree Jr. beating Hill at UFC on ABC 8. Getting ready to throw down 👊@JamahalH vs @KhalilRountree are both getting set in the back! 🤝[ #UFCBaku LIVE NOW on ABC ] Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. is up next. Who takes the W in this main event bout? 🤔#UFCBaku | Full coverage: HERE WE GO 🤩 #UFCBaku Khalil to the body with the jab then a nasty calf kick. Hill gives it back to him. Hill left hand to the body, eats a leg kick,Hill gives it back to him. #UFCBaku 10-9 Rountree after a tactical R1 Might need to be Jamahal Hill's last round. That lead leg is toast! Things going all the way of Khalil Rountree after 10 minutes at #UFCBaku. Jamahal Hill's leg seems to be on the clock and he needs urgency. 20-18 Rountree. Hill should look to change levels! #UFCBaku Fuck them calf kicks adding us sheesh To be fair to Jamahal, Rountree has been showing some pretty solid evasive footwork. Not making it easy for Hill, aka, "Mr No Footwork Whatsoever," to keep a bead on him A BIG LEFT HAND FROM ROUNTREE 👊@KhalilRountree gets the knockdown halfway through round 3![ #UFCBaku | LIVE NOW on ABC ] I am falling asleep Championship Rounds 🏆How are you scoring Jamahal Hill vs Khalil Rountree Jr?! Hill needs to throw a Hail Mary! #UFCBaku The UFC should be embarrassed that Jamahal Hill can say he was a champion in their company. #UFCBaku Wonder if Khalil Rountree Jr. will be the knockdowns leader at LHW after this fight (or at least moved up in the rankings)… gonna have to check with my guy @MikeBohn for that one #UFCBaku Jamal is taking the fight too personally and getting emotional, while Khalil is staying calm and composed — and taking full advantage of it. #UFCBaku 40-36 Rountree shutout continues. Hill needs a knockout. #UFCBaku Hill's corner: "It's close" yeah understatement of the fuckin year Rountree is just is too fast and circling very well hill is tough man cause after that last calf kick I would told my corner we'll get it back next time lol I'm done lmfao Time for the final round! 💥[ #UFCBaku | LIVE on ABC | @KhalilRountree | @JamahalH ] Boring fight! 'stuck in the mud' Easy 💰💰💰 #UFCBaku Khalil looked great. Hill didn't look like himself imo. #ufcbaku

NBC Sports

28 minutes ago

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NBA Finals Game 7 history: Looking back at the last seven Game 7s

OKLAHOMA CITY — Sunday night we will witness the 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history — one game with everything on the line. 'One game. I mean, this is what it's all about,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. 'This is what you dream about growing up, this kind of opportunity.' It's a stage where the biggest, most legendary names in the game — as well as some role players with impeccable timing — have etched their name in NBA lore. 'When I think of Game 7, at least in the Finals, I think of San Antonio and Miami, and I think of Lakers/Celtics,' Alex Caruso said. On Sunday, people will be thinking of Pacers vs. Thunder. Either Indiana or Oklahoma City will win its first NBA championship (we're not counting the title the former Thunder won as the SuperSonics in Seattle, they will have an expansion team in that city that can count that title soon enough). In honor of Game 7, let's look back at the last seven Game 7s of the NBA Finals. 2016: Cavaliers at Warriors This is the Game 7 that sticks in many people's minds. 'I think that's probably one of the greatest games I've ever been able to watch as a basketball fan,' Tyrese Haliburton said. 'That's what makes Game 7 so fun.' '2016, that was the Kyrie step back on the wing,' the Pacers' Obi Toppin said when asked about his favorite Game 7 memory. 'Yeah, that was probably the coldest one, for sure.' We can only hope Sunday's Game 7 lives up to the drama of the last NBA Finals Game 7, when LeBron James put up a line of 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and three blocks — although we only remember one of them. "The Block" On this day in 2016... LeBron James completed a jaw-dropping chasedown block late in Game 7 of the 2016 #NBAFinals setting the stage for a historic comeback. #NBA75 LeBron's effort helped Cleveland cap a 3-1 series comeback and beat Golden State on its home court. Don't forget about Kevin Love's defense on Stephen Curry late in that game, either. 2013: Spurs at Heat This NBA Finals is remembered more for Game 6, when Ray Allen's corner 3 off a Chris Bosh offensive rebound forced a Game 7 just as it looked like San Antonio would be celebrating a title. After that, the Heat still had work to do. In Game 7, LeBron took charge with 37 points and 12 rebounds, while Dwyane Wade added 23 points and 10 rebounds in the 95-88 Miami win. 2010: Celtics vs. Lakers The Lakers had come from 3-2 down in the series to force a Game 7 (and don't ask Celtics fans 'what if Kendrick Perkins had been healthy?'). Like a lot of Game 7s, this one wasn't pretty. Kobe Bryant stepped up with 23 points and 15 rebounds, and Pau Gasol added 19 points and 18 boards. However, with the Lakers up by just 3 and more than a minute left in the game, it was Ron Artest's 3-pointer that proved to be the biggest shot of the night, leading to the greatest postgame podium session in NBA history. "He never passes me the ball. And he passed me the ball! Kobe [Bryant] passed me the ball!" On this day in 2010, Ron Artest hit a clutch three against the Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals and had a classic postgame interview after winning the title 😂 2005: Pistons at Spurs This was the peak defense NBA Finals — only one team broke 100 all series long — and San Antonio won Game 7 in an 81-74 slugfest. Tim Duncan did his thing with 25 points and 11 rebounds, but it was Manu Ginobili scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter that locked the title up for the Spurs. 1994: Knicks at Rockets New York had a 3-2 series lead, but under the old 3-2-3 format, had to go to Houston and seal the deal. Hakeem Olajuwon proved to be too much. In Game 7 he had 25 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots. This was the first of back-to-back Rockets titles. 1988: Pistons at Lakers 'Big Game' James Worthy lived up to that reputation in this one with a triple-double of 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. Magic Johnson also stood out with 19 points and 14 assists to help the Lakers come back from a 3-2 deficit in the series and win. 1984: Lakers at Celtics Of course this classic 1980s Finals Game 7 featured a big game from Larry Bird — 20 points, 12 rebounds — but this game is remembered as the Cedric Maxwell game: 24 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. The Celtics got to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy that year.