Star power: Viewership for Game 1 of NBA Finals up 90% over last year's series opener
- On Wednesday, the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals, drawing nearly 17 million viewers and marking the most-watched series opener since 2018.
- Viewership surged 90% over the 2025 series opener, driven by star power from Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, rivaling the finals eight years ago featuring LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
- Brunson secured victory with multiple clutch buckets despite the Spurs leading 95-94 with under two minutes remaining, making the Knicks' win tighter than the final score suggests.
- Peaking at 19.63 million viewers around 11 p.m. EDT during the fourth quarter, the contest set an all-time record for a Game 1 broadcast on ABC, surpassing recent World Series openers.
- Fans are celebrating team captain Jalen Brunson, aptly nicknamed "Captain Clutch" in newspapers and murals across the city, as the Spurs prepare to tie the series in Game 2 on Friday night.
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Knicks Take Game 1 of NBA Finals Behind Brunson Finish
By Jeremy Giggy | Sports Director, White River Broadcasting The New York Knicks waited 27 years to get back to the NBA Finals. They did not waste the moment. New York opened the 2026 Finals with a 105-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs, taking a 1-0 series lead and stealing home-court advantage. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 30 points, including 19 in the second half. New York trailed by 14 but tightened defensively and took control late. The…
Associated Press News
Star power: Viewership for Game 1 of NBA Finals up 90% over last year's series opener
The star power of Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson helped this year’s NBA Finals get off to a huge start in terms of viewership, the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the last finals matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry eight years ago.
Star power: NBA Finals Game 1 viewership up 90% over last year's series opener
The star power of Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson helped this year’s NBA Finals get off to a huge start in terms of viewership, the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the last finals matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry eight years ago. Game 1 of the finals matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks averaged nearly 17 million viewers on Wednesday night, up 90% when compared to last season’s finals Game 1. It was t…
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