Monday night at Madison Square Garden delivered exactly what the basketball world was hoping for, and the numbers proved it. Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs averaged 23.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 since 1998, when Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls closed out their sixth championship run against the Utah Jazz.
The occasion had all the ingredients for a ratings explosion. President Donald Trump attended the game, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to ever watch an NBA Finals in person, while MSG hosted its first Finals game since 1999. Viewership peaked at 26.3 million around 11:15 p.m. ET, per Nielsen data cited by ESPN.
The numbers represent a 159% jump compared to last year’s Game 3 between the Pacers and eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Through three games, this Finals has averaged 19.1 million viewers overall, putting it on pace to become the second most-watched NBA Finals in ABC and ESPN history.
On the court, the Spurs ended New York’s historic 13-game playoff win streak with a 115-111 victory, cutting the series deficit to 2-1. Victor Wembanyama’s star power is clearly drawing casual fans into the fold, and three competitive games in a row have kept everyone glued to the screen.
Game 4 tips off Wednesday, and with the series very much alive, the ratings could climb even higher.
