Warriors, Thunder Game 7 draws highest NBA cable TV rating ever

The NBA Finals could top the Chicago Bulls’ 1998 championship win over the Utah Jazz.

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The Golden State Warriors’ 96–88 Game 7 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder averaged 15.9 million total viewers and an 8.8 U.S. HH rating, which is the highest-ever for a NBA cable telecast and the most-watched program in TNT network history, according to a release.

The game peaked with 19.8 million total viewers and a 10.9 U.S. HH rating from 11:15–11:30 p.m. ET.​ The Inside the NBA postgame show also recorded its best-ever rating of 4.8. The game and postgame show were the two top programs of the night, across cable and broadcast television.

After overcoming a 3–1 series deficit against the Thunder, the Warriors will have the chance to defend their NBA championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers when the NBA Finals begin on Thursday. Last year’s Finals drew an average of 19.9 million viewers for ABC.

The 2016 Finals will also be broadcast on ABC, and can be live streamed on ESPN.

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LeBron James’s quest for a championship for Cleveland and the Warriors looking to cap off their 73-win season with the trophy could top the 1998 Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, which garnered the highest Nielsen TV ratings in NBA history at 18.7.