Wembanyama Spurs boost ratings

Sports Media Watch reported on Thursday that the San Antonio Spurs have emerged as one of the strongest television draws of the NBA’s second round, with Victor Wembanyama at the center of the surge. The outlet said Sunday’s Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves averaged a combined 7.9 million viewers across Nielsen and Adobe Analytics, making it the second most-watched game of the playoffs so far behind only Sixers-Celtics Game 7 on NBC after the Kentucky Derby. The same game peaked at 10.2 million viewers, according to the report. San Antonio leads Minnesota 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinals after a 126-97 win in Game 5 on Tuesday. ### Which Spurs game delivered the biggest audience? Sunday, May 10, produced the clearest data point. Sports Media Watch said Spurs-Timberwolves Game 4 averaged 7.9 million viewers across Nielsen and Adobe Analytics and peaked at 10.2 million. The outlet said only Sixers-Celtics Game 7, which drew 10.99 million on NBC after the Kentucky Derby, has posted a larger audience in this year’s playoffs. The same report said the Game 4 audience nearly doubled the comparable Cavaliers-Pacers Game 4 window from last year, which averaged 4.04 million on TNT Sports under Nielsen-only measurement. Sports Media Watch noted that comparisons across years should be treated carefully because Nielsen has changed its methodology and NBC includes Adobe streaming data in its combined figure. (sportsmediawatch.com) ### Was it just one game, or is the whole series drawing? Friday’s Game 3 averaged 5.25 million viewers on Prime Video, Sports Media Watch reported, the largest NBA audience yet for the streamer. The outlet said that figure was up 24% from Thunder-Nuggets on ESPN in the comparable slot last year and also topped Lakers-Thunder on Prime Video the previous night, which drew 5.08 million. (sportsmediawatch.com) Last Wednesday’s Game 2 drew 5.2 million viewers on ESPN, Sports Media Watch said, making it the most-watched playoff game on cable so far. The report added that ESPN had aired only two second-round games through Tuesday, a limitation that affects direct comparisons within the round. ### How much of this is being tied to Wembanyama? Sports Media Watch explicitly framed the ratings rise around “the Victor Wembanyama era,” while also noting that Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves have appeared in highly viewed playoff games in each of the past two postseasons. (sportsmediawatch.com) The outlet said the Spurs have accounted for several audience high-water marks this season beyond this series. The report said Spurs-Thunder on Christmas Day was the most-watched game of the regular season on broadcast television. It also said Knicks-Spurs in the NBA Cup final was the most-watched game outside broadcast television during the regular season. ### Where does the series stand on the court? Tuesday, May 12, moved the basketball story forward. (sportsmediawatch.com) NBA.com said Wembanyama returned with 27 points and 17 rebounds in San Antonio’s 126-97 Game 5 win, pushing the Spurs to a 3-2 lead in the series. CBS News Minnesota also reported the 29-point margin and San Antonio’s move to within one win of the Western Conference finals. Yahoo Sports reported Thursday that Minnesota will host Game 6 on Friday with the Timberwolves trying to force a deciding Game 7. NBC Sports said Oklahoma City has already advanced and would be San Antonio’s next opponent if the Spurs close out the series. ### What happens next? Friday, May 15, is the next date on the schedule. ESPN’s schedule page lists Spurs at Timberwolves for Game 6 that day, and the Timberwolves’ ticket site lists an 8:30 p.m. start in Minneapolis. (nba.com) If Minnesota wins, the series would return to San Antonio for Game 7; if the Spurs win, they advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals. (espn.com) (sports.yahoo.com)