NBA Suns vs Nuggets Christmas Day Game Breaks Ratings Record

The NBA had a fantastic Christmas Day this year! Viewership was up a whopping 84% from last year, and the Phoenix Suns facing off against the Denver Nuggets set a record with 3.84 million viewers tuning in. It was the most-watched late-window NBA game on Christmas to date, and the Suns came out on top with a 110-100 win over the Nuggets.

All five Christmas Day games combined drew an impressive average of 5.25 million viewers across various networks like ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+. The matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors took the lead, drawing an average of 7.76 million viewers and making it the most-watched Christmas Day in five years.

While NBA ratings across ESPN, ABC, and TNT were down by 18% leading up to Christmas Day, that deficit saw a significant improvement, dropping to just 4% after the holiday. Suns star Kevin Durant shared his thoughts postgame, emphasizing how special the day was for fans and players alike. He hoped that viewers would stay invested in the game and continue supporting players and teams throughout the season, not just during the playoffs or finals.

Despite competing with the NFL with two football games streamed on Netflix, the NBA held its own, making Christmas a basketball-filled day for fans. Lakers star LeBron James summed it up perfectly, saying, “Christmas is our day.” So, here’s to more exciting matchups and record-breaking viewership in the NBA!