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Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek based in California. His expertise is in covering the NBA but he also covers multiple other sports. He has been with Newsweek since 2024. He graduated in 2021 with a Master of Science degree in Sport Management from Louisiana State University. You can get in touch with him by emailing [email protected] and you can find him on X at @Levine1445.
Contributing Sports Writer
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Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers drew the largest audience for a Finals game in six years, according to ESPN.
More NBA news: Thunder Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Almost Matched Wild LeBron James NBA Finals Feat
The average audience came in at 16.35 million while the peak audience was recorded at 19.28 million.
This is a massive win for the NBA, especially during a season where ratings have been lower than usual. But due to the closeness of this NBA Finals series, it seems that fans wanted to tune in to see what would happen.
More NBA news: Thunder Secure First Championship With Game 7 Victory of Pacers
According to ESPN, the seven-game series averaged 10,266,000 viewers and delivered the seven most-watched broadcasts on all of television since May 1. The ratings for the entire postseason were also up across both ESPN and ABC, according to ESPN.
Oklahoma City took down the Pacers in Game 7, clinching the first NBA title in franchise history. The Thunder were the best team all season long, and they proved it by cementing themselves as NBA champions.
But this game was all about the devastating injury to Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton left just a few minutes into the game with a non-contact injury.
Many expected it to be a torn Achilles after the initial replay of Haliburton falling to the court. And it was confirmed to be exactly that early Monday morning.
More NBA news: Pacers Star Tyrese Haliburton Suffered Torn Achilles in NBA Finals Game 7
Haliburton now faces a massive uphill battle in terms of his recovery, and his injury could impact the Pacers' offseason. Indiana had previously been planning to enter the luxury tax to keep the core group together, but the injury to Haliburton could change things.
The Pacers will move forward with Haliburton likely missing all of next season. But the special playoff run that the team just went on won't be forgotten anytime soon.
The Thunder may have won the title, but the Pacers showed the league a different way to find success on the floor.
More NBA news: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reacts to Heartbreaking Tyrese Haliburton Injury
Pacers' Rick Carlisle Gets Emotional Discussing Tyrese Haliburton Playoff Run
Suns Have Reportedly Made Bradley Beal Decision After Kevin Durant Trade
For more on the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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About the writer
Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek based in California. His expertise is in covering the NBA but he also covers multiple other sports. He has been with Newsweek since 2024. He graduated in 2021 with a Master of Science degree in Sport Management from Louisiana State University. You can get in touch with him by emailing [email protected] and you can find him on X at @Levine1445.
Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek based in California. His expertise is in covering the NBA but ...
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