The Toronto Raptors' win over the New Orleans Pelicans averaged a 1.4 rating and 2.25 million viewers, which makes it the smallest Opening Night audience (in the U.S.) since 2007 (Blazers-Spurs: 1.94M; Rockets-Lakers: 2.05M).
The rating excludes the Canadian audience.
The Los Angeles Clippers' win over the Los Angeles Lakers, however, averaged a 2.2 rating and 3.58 million viewers on TNT, which ranks third among Opening Night games since 2013. The 2017 openers — Celtics-Cavaliers (3.3, 5.60M) and Rockets-Warriors (2.6, 4.25M) — hold the top spots.
The NBA also competed against the World Series on their opening night for the first time since 2016.