With the Boston Celtics up 24 in the fourth quarter, it is no surprise ratings for Game 2 of the NBA Finals dipped from Game 1.
The Celtics’ 108-102 victory over the Lakers drew a 10.2 overnight rating on Sunday night, up 48% from a 6.9 for Cavaliers/Spurs last year, but down 17% from a 12.3 overnight for Pistons/Lakers Game 2 in 2004, the last time the Lakers were in the NBA Finals.
The Lakers’ furious comeback likely took place after many fans turned off their televisions. The Celtics’ dominance throughout the game led to a 22 point lead after three quarters and made the game seem like a foregone conclusion.
In Los Angeles, the game drew a 25.5 rating, down 14% from a 29.7 for Game 2 in 2004. In Boston, the game drew a 22.5, less than half of the 51.2/71 for Game 2 of last year’s World Series, which involved the Red Sox.
This marks the fourth straight year overnight ratings for Game 2 of the Finals have dropped from Game 1. Overall, this has happened in ten of the past eleven years, though most of that can be attributed to Game 2 airing on Friday nights in past years. The lone year ratings for Game 2 improved was 2004, when ABC used a Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday schedule (as opposed to Thu/Sun/Tue since then).
With the Lakers down 0-2, the NBA could be looking at a short series. And while even a four-game sweep is almost assured to draw the second-highest NBA Finals average ABC has ever drawn, the network would be virtually assured a 9.0 or higher average if the series were to go six or seven games.
Overnight ratings for Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
10.2: Lakers/Celtics (Sun., 6/8/08, 9 PM ABC); down 2% from Game 1.
6.9: Cavaliers/Spurs (Sun., 6/10/07, 9 PM ABC); down 13% from Game 1.
9.1: Heat/Mavericks (Sun., 6/11/06, 9 PM ABC); down 2% from Game 1.
8.5: Pistons/Spurs (Sun., 6/12/05, 9 PM ABC); down 3% from Game 1.
12.3: Pistons/Lakers (Tue., 6/8/04, 9 PM ABC); up 6% from Game 1.
7.3: Nets/Spurs (Fri., 6/6/03, 8:30 PM ABC); down 10% from Game 1.
10.3: Nets/Lakers (Fri., 6/7/02, 9 PM NBC); down 21% from Game 1.
14.5: 76ers/Lakers (Fri., 6/8/01, 9 PM NBC); down 5% from Game 1.
11.9: Pacers/Lakers (Fri., 6/9/00, 9 PM NBC); down 7% from Game 1.
10.0: Knicks/Spurs (Fri., 6/18/99, 9 PM NBC); down 15% from Game 1.
18.8: Bulls/Jazz (Fri., 6/5/98, 9 PM NBC); down 6% from Game 1.
