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Spurs-Knicks Game 3 becomes most-watched Finals game in the US in 28 years
Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals drew an average of 23.8 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, making it the most-watched Finals game since 1998. The broadcast peaked at 26.3 million viewers; close scores in the series and Donald Trump’s attendance also drew attention.
Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals recorded an average of 23.8 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, becoming the most-watched Finals game in the last 28 years. The broadcast peaked at 26.3 million viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET.
The result showed that the series between the Spurs and the Knicks has become one of the season's most compelling sports stories. The game achieved the highest Finals viewership since the 1998 Finals between the Bulls and the Jazz.
Interest in the Finals series grows
The rise in ratings revealed that the Finals series has surpassed broadcasts in recent years. Viewership for Game 1 also increased by 90 percent compared to the 2025 Finals opener.
The total point differential across the first three games of the series was only 15. These close scores kept the games open until the final moments and sustained national interest.
Wembanyama and Brunson stand out
The performances of Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson also contributed to the series' growing appeal. Wembanyama's global recognition and Brunson's rise in New York brought the series to a wider audience's attention.
US President Donald Trump also attended Game 3. This drew attention as the first time a sitting US president has watched an NBA Finals game in person.
League officials have been closely monitoring the interest in this matchup from the start. The close games and moments that went down to the final seconds turned the Finals series into one of the most talked-about sports topics of the season.
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