Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City: ‘Friday the 13th’ graphic horrifies fans during NBA Finals 2025 broadcast
During Game 4 of the NBA Finals 2025, fans were stunned as a creepy Friday the 13th graphic flashed on screen during a live TV glitch. The odd moment sparked confusion and fear online, with many wondering if the broadcast was hacked or if it was a perfectly timed promotional stunt.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder had fans locked in. The game was intense, but something unexpected stole the spotlight. Just minutes into the match, the live TV broadcast gave viewers a moment they will not forget.
Viewers spooked by the sudden Friday the 13th graphic
During the first quarter on ESPN’s live feed, the screen suddenly glitched. The video froze for a second. Then, right before cutting out, a creepy “Friday the 13th” graphic flashed across the screen. It looked like a horror movie jump scare, and it only lasted a moment before disappearing.
Viewers were quick to react. Social media exploded with posts asking if others saw what they just did. “Was that a Friday the 13th screen during the NBA Finals or am I losing it?” one person wrote. Someone else posted a screen recording and said their TV glitched and showed a scary bloody screen.
ESPN FRIDAY THE 13TH GLITCH 💀pic.twitter.com/9CQIxewrO6
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) June 14, 2025
The timing of the incident made it even stranger. It was Friday the 13th and many were already joking about the superstitions linked to the date. But this took things to a whole new level. Some called it a real hack. Others thought it was a genius bit of marketing placed perfectly during the broadcast.
Even on YouTube, where fans were watching the livestream, the chat filled with confusion and shock. Meanwhile, over on X, the post from a viewer showing the glitch went viral. However, ABC and ESPN have not said anything about what really happened.
Have we been hacked? Live NBA Finals broadcast just glitched and had a Friday the 13th blip? pic.twitter.com/RVC1TZWSW0
— BestOfTimes (@JamesJa14090207) June 14, 2025
Whether it was a technical error or something more planned, the creepy message quickly became the most talked about moment of the night. Instead of just the game, people everywhere were asking the same question, what just happened on live TV?