Daigneault Sends Thunder 'Better Team' Message Ahead of Game 2 Against Pacers originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The first game of the finals averaged a 4.7 rating and 8.91 million viewers on ABC. It was one of the lowest-rated and least-watched NBA Finals openers since Nielsen tracking began in 1988. The viewership was more than the 2020 and 2021 finals, but those were impacted by COVID-19.

The 2025 NBA Finals got off to a rousing start with the Indiana Pacers' miraculous 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 on Thursday night. Tyrese Haliburton made a game-winning pull-up jumper with 0.3 seconds to complete a 15-point fourth-quarter comeback and steal home-court advantage from OKC.