Knicks-Spurs Game 3 makes broadcast viewership history

The 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks shifted to the Big Apple this week, where the Spurs took Game 3 for their first win in a series that was all New York in the prior two.

With Victor Wembanyama leading the way for the Spurs in their first NBA Finals appearance since 2014 and Jalen Brunson leading the way for the Kings in their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, fans are absolutely tuned in.

The league announced viewership numbers for Game 3 ahead of Wednesday night’s Game 4, and it’s been a major success.

Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks averaged 23.8 million viewers, peaking with 26.3 million viewers at 11:15 PM EST, with the two teams fighting in a tight fourth quarter.

It was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 in 28 years — since the Chicago Bulls took on the Utah Jazz back in 1998.

Game 3 was the most-watched program across all of TV since the Super Bowl, according to Nielsen.

In addition, the league says that the 2026 NBA Finals games have also generated more than five billion social media views, the most ever through the first three games of the Finals.

This comes after the NBA reported strong numbers for Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, both of which were Knicks victories.

The first two games of the 2026 NBA Finals averaged 16.68 million viewers through the first 2 games of the series, making it the most-watched Finals since 2018. Game 1 had 16.93 million viewers and peaked with nearly 20 million viewers while Game 2 averaged 16.43 million viewers and peaked with 19.42 million viewers.

All this is leading up to what should be a fantastic Game 4 inside Madison Square Garden. If the Spurs win, they’ll even the series up at 2-2, reclaim home-court advantage, and return home to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday night. If the Knicks win, they’ll take a commanding 3-1 series lead and travel to San Antonio for a potential championship close-out Game 5 on Saturday.