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4w ago

'Friday the 13th' Glitch Interrupts NBA Finals Game 4 Broadcast

The error ran twice in Friday’s first quarter, fueling online theories of a hack or marketing stunt.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives past Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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Overview

  • Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse saw ESPN/ABC’s feed cut twice in the first quarter to display a 'Friday the 13th' graphic during the Pacers–Thunder matchup.
  • Viewers took to X to express alarm and frustration, with many questioning whether the network had been hacked after the eerie interruption.
  • The use of a slasher-film motif tapped into superstitions around the date and trended under #Fridaythe13th during the live action.
  • Some social-media users proposed the interruption was a calculated marketing stunt intended to generate buzz during Game 4’s broadcast.
  • Neither ESPN nor ABC has provided an official explanation for the malfunction as discussion continues online.