Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors didn't sit well with a lot of fans watching it on ABC, as the giant media network recorded one of the lowest rated Finals games in its history, according to a report from SportsMediaWatch.com.
Article Continues BelowThursday’s Warriors-Raptors NBA Finals Game 1 earned a 10.1 overnight rating, down 18% from Cavaliers-Warriors last year (12.3) and down 19% from Cavaliers-Warriors in 2017 (12.4).
The 10.1 is the lowest for Game 1 of the NBA Finals in a full decade — since Magic-Lakers in 2009 (8.9). It is also the lowest for any NBA Finals game since Heat-Spurs Game 3 in 2013, a 36-point San Antonio blowout (10.0).
The 18% decline is the steepest for Game 1 of the finals since 2005 (Pistons-Spurs, -24%).
The Raptors made it to the Finals for the first time in its 24 years in the league, and they went up against the two-time defending champion Warriors. It is likely that the decline in ratings is because some fans didn't know a lot about the Raps or they just got tired of seeing the Dubs, who are in the Finals for the fifth straight year.
Still, the series opener didn't disappoint as it featured a team that's chasing history versus a team that's trying to solidify a dynasty. Both the Warriors and the Raptors threw their best haymakers in Game 1, but it was the former who came away with the 118-109 victory.
Game 2 of the series will be on Sunday in Toronto, where the Warriors will look to even things up before heading back to Golden State for Games 3 and 4.