There’s been extensive discussion regarding NBA ratings, particularly surrounding the drops in national ratings earlier this season. Theories range from the emphasis on three-point shooting and the friendliness of competing stars to the perception that players aren’t giving full effort. However, a factor that merits further attention is the increasing frequency of lopsided games, an occurrence more pronounced than seen in previous decades. The recent example was the Portland Trail Blazers’ 141-88 home victory over the Charlotte Hornets, marking a 53-point win—the largest in franchise history. This surpasses the previous record of 50 points set against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1982, and it came from a team that improved to 24-33 with this victory, while the Hornets fell to 14-41. Headlines like “Trail Blazers, of all teams, win by 53 points for largest victory in franchise history” from Fox Sports reflect the shock value.
NBA games decided by 50+ points:
2020s – 19
2010s – 8
2000s – 6
1990s – 7
1980s – 6
1970s – 9
1960s – 3
1950s – 0
1940s – 0There have been 11 games decided by 50+ points since the start of the 2023-24 season. https://t.co/auox4LaiLI
— Brian Swane (@BrianSwane) February 23, 2025
The NBA had never seen double-digit 50-plus point blowouts in any decade until the 2020s, which has recorded 11 defeats this past season and a half. Additionally, five of the top 12 largest blowouts in history by victory margin occurred this decade, with three of those since the beginning of the 2023-24 season. Games of such unevenness tend to make for dull television, often leading viewers to tune out early, thereby impacting the average audience minutes. While the specific rise in 50-point blowouts may not be crucial to the ratings narrative—11 games constitute a tiny fraction of the 1,230 regular-season games played each season—it can reflect a broader trend of non-competitive matches. It’s worth noting that even exceptionally lopsided games can be anticipated from early on and are usually shown only regionally or through special packages like League Pass. Interestingly, local ratings witnessed notable gains overall last year, attributed to several teams transitioning from regional sports networks to over-the-air broadcasts.
The discussion extends beyond mere “50-point blowouts versus competitive games.” It encompasses the overall frequency of non-competitive matches, which can be challenging to quantify precisely. For instance, a tightly contested game might end with a 10-point loss due to late-game events, or a one-sided game could finish within 10 points if bench players see extended time. Nevertheless, the prevalence of 50-point blowouts unmistakably signals a concerning trend, suggesting that these extreme margins are becoming historical norms. Supporting this, the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently posting the highest average margin of victory in NBA history at 13.11 points per game this season, alongside other recent teams like last year’s Boston Celtics and this year’s Cleveland Cavaliers ranking in the top seven of this metric.
Potential explanations abound for these trends. Matt Moore, in a January piece titled “National Blowout Association: Are Margins of Victory Increasing Compared to Previous Seasons?” on Action Network, noted that the January average margin of victory spiked to 13.9, significantly exceeding historical averages. He proposed several reasons, including increased variability in a three-point-centric league, player fatigue following the In-Season Tournament, and parity, which may yield less differentiation between teams throughout the season but more fluctuations in performance from game to game. Another contributing factor could be the uptick in organizations embracing tanking or “The Process,” which often results in consistently poor team performance, although front offices do most of the work, not the individual players on the floor.
Overall, despite these issues, the NBA remains financially sound due to their locked-in national media deals secured for the future. While ratings discussions are fascinating, it’s clear the ratings themselves do not present a dire picture. The league won’t face immediate financial challenges based on these secured agreements, even after experiencing criticism during last year’s All-Star Game, which has seen declining numbers and sparked widespread criticism of its quality. Nevertheless, competitive on-court games are paramount, and even NBA commissioner Adam Silver highlighted the need for “competitive tension” and “aesthetic appeal” this January, indicating potential adjustments to rules to improve them. With the rise in 50-point blowouts clearly demonstrating a lack of competitiveness, their growing frequency ties into wider concerns regarding the quality of play.
