The T’Wolves this NBA postseason “look like a national draw” because of G Anthony Edwards, according to Richard Deitsch of THE ATHLETIC. The “most astonishing number” so far for the postseason was Game 7 of the T’Wolves' Western Conference second-round series against the defending champions Nuggets and three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, which averaged 8.41 million viewers across TNT (7.51 million) and truTV (905,000). It is the “most-viewed early round” NBA playoff audience ever on a WBD/Turner Sports property. Deitsch notes what was “unique" was the level of interest for two franchises who "play in media markets outside of the top 10.” ESPN VP/Brand Strategy & Content Research Flora Kelly notes that ESPN’s social analytics last week “showed the most popular NBA team for its socials was Minnesota.” The viewership numbers for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals came out Thursday afternoon, and the T'Wolves “continue to draw interest.” Dallas-Minnesota averaged 7.02 million viewers across TNT and truTV. That is the “second-most-watched NBA postseason game this season.” The 7.02-million viewer number was “also very close” to Game 1 of the Lakers-Nuggets Western Conference finals last year on ESPN and ESPN2, which drew 7.36 million ( THE ATHLETIC, 5/24 ).
T’Wolves propelling forward in ratings behind rise of Anthony Edwards
