The most people watched an NBA playoff game on TNT during the first round of the playoffs when the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets faced off in Game 7. 

The game was the most watched first- or second-round playoff game on TNT history, with an average of 4.1 ratings and 8.41 million people across TNT and truTV, according to Sports Media Watch. The Timberwolves, under the direction of Anthony Edwards, were playing in front of their biggest crowd to date, so this was a momentous occasion.

There was a lot of tension and excitement throughout the Timberwolves vs. Nuggets series, which added to the excitement for Game 7. NBA expert Stephen A. Smith predicted that the Timberwolves will win the series after they won the first two games of the series.

But the Nuggets struck back, winning three in a row and grabbing a 3-2 advantage in the conference semifinal series. Then, Minnesota showed off their abilities and leveled the series to force a game 7.

Denver’s top players, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, put on incredible performances, but the Nuggets lost Game 7 and were eliminated from the playoffs. Jokic scored 34 points, while Murray scored 35. After Minnesota won Game 6, there was a growing sense of anticipation among supporters for the pivotal game in Game 7.

A memorable playoff moment is delivered by the Game 7 matchup.

Apart from the exhilarating on-court activities, off-court narratives also drew in viewers. After his Game 6 halftime performance, Anthony Edwards’ brother, bdifferent, received a lot of attention on social media, which heightened the intrigue in an already compelling series.

The importance of this Game 7 was not overlooked by either commentators or fans. The fierce rivalry and star power on exhibit throughout the series are evident in the record-breaking viewership numbers on TNT and truTV.

As noted by Sports Media Watch, “the previous high was 8.38 million for Magic-Celtics Game 7 in 2009.” It’s important to note that out-of-home viewing, which was not included in Nielsen estimates until 2020, is not included in this record-breaking audience.