When the top two teams in the East and West went head-to-head it was a guaranteed blockbuster – the viewing figures have proven it.
The 31-4 Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the 30-5 Oklahoma City Thunder in a regular season game for the ages.
It was the Cavs who would runout 129-122 victors thanks to the impactful duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
The win was so big for the Cavaliers that Darius Garland pronounced the team the “best team in the league.”
While many could argue that one thing that cannot be argued is the immense number of viewing figures the game drew in.
While the regular season games often lack the bite of the playoffs the same couldn’t be said for this top-dog clash.
The NBA confirmed that the game averaged 1.87 million viewers on ESPN, up +20% vs. the comparable window last year.
The game peaked with a staggering 2.5 million viewers and the Cleveland Cavaliers were the No. 1 trending topic worldwide on X during the game.
Garland’s comments suggesting the team should have at least four All-Stars also caught people’s attention.
Fans around the NBA are still on a high after watching the match with one saying: “Proud to be part of the millions who watched. Was truly a great basketball game with teams not obsessed with 3-point shooting.”
Another said: “What an epic showdown! The energy in that game was unmatched.”
The praise continued to flow as one fan said: “WHAT A GAME IT WAS!!!,” while another stated: “Good for the league.”
Many pointed out that more teams should be given the chance to have their games televised.
One fan said: “That’s what happens when it’s not the Lakers , Warriors or Celtics on National Tv every game!”
Another stated: “Who would have thought when you promote a good match-up with young stars people want to watch it. Wow!!!!!”
Some fans are already looking forward to the rematch with one saying: “Can’t wait for the rematch next week.”
The game will be available to watch next Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7:30pm/et on TNT.
The game may not have ended as the Thunder had hoped but the overall basketball spectacle was hailed by NBA expert Brian Windhorst.
Speaking on ESPN’s “Get Up!” he said: “This was an advertisement of NBA regular season basketball at its best.
“Both of these playing their systems. Molly, in the third quarter of this game, the Thunder won the third quarter 43-41. That 12 minutes of basketball and the way these two teams operated the way they played with that mastery, was as high as a level as I’ve seen in the regular season in my 20-plus years covering the NBA.”
Windhorst finished with a bold statement saying: “If you didn’t love that game, you don’t love basketball.”
The Thunder will be looking to get their own back when the teams clash in the highly-anticipated rematch.
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