Celtics-Lakers Game Draws 4.61M Viewers, Highest in 7 Years

The highly anticipated NBA matchup between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers on March 8 attracted an impressive average of 4.61 million viewers, marking it as the most-watched regular-season game in seven years, excluding Christmas Day games. The viewership represented a significant 92% increase compared to the previous year's comparable game window. The game featured newly acquired Lakers star Luka Doncic, who scored 34 points and eight rebounds, drawing additional attention due to his recent trade from the Dallas Mavericks. The matchup peaked at 5.34 million viewers and was the most-watched program in primetime that Saturday. This surge in ratings comes amid concerns over declining NBA viewership, attributed to various factors including the rise of streaming and a perceived lack of star power in the league. With the NBA poised for an exciting postseason, the heightened interest in marquee matchups like this one signals a potential turnaround for the league's television ratings.