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Knicks in 5…and nearly 25 million viewers.
According to Nielsen data, the New York Knicks victory in game five of the 2026 NBA Finals over the San Antonio Spurs drew 24.5 million viewers across ABC and ESPN. The game,
which aired on June 13, peaked at 33 million viewers late in the telecast as the Knicks staged a rally to come back for a 94-90 victory.
That is the most-watched NBA Finals game five since 1998, when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz. That series ultimately went to game six, with the Bulls coming out on top.
The Knicks-Spurs finals averaged approximately 20.6 million viewers across all five games. That is double the roughly 10.3 million average for the 2025 finals, in which the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers. The final three games of this year’s finals all drew more than 20 million viewers as well.
The Knicks won their first NBA Championship since 1973 on Saturday night, with Knicks guard Jalen Brunson carrying the team with 45 points scored. Brunson was named Finals MVP for his efforts.
Although the game took place in San Antonio, Knicks fans were out in force at the game. Celebrities like Ben Stiller, Sydney Sweeney, Timothée Chalamet, and Spike Lee were all in attendance to see the team clinch the victory.
Back in New York, New Yorkers were jubilant to say the least following the victory, with thousands taking to the streets til the wee hours of the morning to celebrate the win.
