The Magic made things relatively interesting, but the Eastern Conference Finals was just never able to find its footing in the ratings.
The Celtics’ series-clinching Game 6 win over the Magic drew a 5.5 overnight rating on ESPN Friday night, even with Wednesday’s Game 5 and down 11% from Monday’s Game 4.
Overnight ratings were not immediately available for either Lakers/Nuggets Game 6 last year or Celtics/Pistons Game 6 in ’08, but the games drew final ratings of 5.1 and 4.2, respectively.
Friday’s game is on pace for a final rating in the 4.3-4.6 range.
The Celtics/Magic series put up fairly consistent numbers. Three of the six games drew a 5.5 overnight rating, and a fourth (Game 2) drew a 5.7. The only real variations came for Games 3 and 4, which drew overnights of 4.4 and 6.2, respectively.
The series should finish as the second-highest rated and second-most viewed Conference Final ever on ESPN, behind only last year’s Lakers/Nuggets series.
(ESPN)
