NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA's five games on Christmas Day drew an impressive average of 5.335 million viewers, surpassing initial expectations and making it the most-viewed Christmas slate since 2019, as per final numbers released on Monday. This marked an 87% increase over last year's viewership during the holiday season.

The games, which spanned 13 hours across ESPN platforms, saw remarkable viewer engagement in nearly every timeslot. Notably, the matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, featuring rookie Victor Wembanyama's Christmas debut, clocked in just under 5 million viewers, representing a staggering 101% increase from the previous year. This game was the most-watched Christmas noon game in 13 years.

The 8 p.m. Eastern duel between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, renowned for its star-studded players LeBron James and Stephen Curry, was the highlight, averaging 7.9 million viewers and peaking at approximately 8.5 million. That particular game also surpassed last year's corresponding timeslot viewership by an astounding 511%.

Even the late-night game between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets set a record for that timeslot, averaging 3.9 million viewers. Other matchups included Philadelphia vs. Boston, averaging 5.24 million viewers, and Dallas vs. Minnesota with 4.45 million viewers, both reflecting slight increases from their previous years.

This boost in ratings correlates with the NBA's overall improved viewership numbers, which are up 5% compared to last season, according to Nielsen. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the challenges posed by the evolving landscape of media consumption, noting that as audiences increasingly shift to streaming platforms, the NBA is adapting its television strategies for the upcoming seasons. Silver remarked, “We’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programming on streaming than they are on traditional television" [AP News].

Collectively, these numbers represent a positive trend for the league amidst previous concerns about declining ratings.