An overtime thriller helped boost the ratings for Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals.
The Lakers’ overtime victory over the Magic drew a 10.9 overnight on ABC Thursday night, up 5% from a 10.4 for Celtics/Lakers Game 4 last year, and the highest overnight for a Game 4 in the NBA Finals since 2004.
The 10.9 also marks the highest overnight for any of the first four games of the NBA Finals since ’04.
Compared to other recent Game 4s, the 10.9 overnight marks a 38% increase over a 7.9 for Spurs/Cavaliers Game 4 in ’07, and a 20% jump over a 9.1 for Mavericks/Heat Game 4 in ’06.
ABC easily won prime time in total viewers and among adults 18-49.
In Orlando, Game 4 drew a 26.3 rating, down from a 29.0 for Game 3. Meanwhile, Game 4 drew a series-high 27.3 in Los Angeles, down 3% from a 28.2 for last year’s Game 4 in the market.
The 10.9 overnight for Game 4 continues a solid NBA Finals for ABC, as ratings have been down only slightly from last year’s marquee Lakers/Celtics series. Entering what could be the final game of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, ABC is averaging a 10.0 overnight rating for Lakers/Magic, down only 5% from a 10.5 through the same point last year, and up 30% from a 7.7 through the same point in ’07.
