The hype began in earnest the moment Game 5 ended and continued unabated through the end of Game 6. As a result, a record number of eyeballs tuned in to what could have been the end of the LeBron James era in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers’ Game 6 loss to the Celtics — potentially the final game for James in a Cavalier uniform — drew a massive 7.1 overnight rating on ESPN Thursday night, up 92% from Celtics/Magic Game 6 last year (3.7) and tied as the highest overnight ever for any NBA Playoff game on the network.
Only Game 4 of last year’s Lakers/Nuggets Western Conference Finals drew an overnight as large.
The 7.1 overnight is not only a record for ESPN, it is also the highest overnight for any second round NBA Playoff game on any network since 2004, when Lakers/Spurs Game 5 drew a 7.2 in primetime on ABC. Even Cavaliers/Celtics Game 7 on ABC two years ago drew a smaller overnight (6.9).
Thursday’s game drew big numbers in several television markets. In Cleveland, the game drew a 29.4 rating, the highest ever for an NBA game on ESPN in the market. Meanwhile, the game drew a 16.9 in Boston, the highest for a game on ESPN since the Celtics’ clincher against the Pistons two years ago (18.4).
The game was also the highest rated ever on ESPN in the Chicago (7.1) and Orlando (9.4) markets — especially surprising considering that ESPN has aired multiple Bulls and Magic playoff games over the years.
In New York, which like Chicago is one of the markets mentioned as a potential destination for James, the game drew a 6.0 rating — the highest for an NBA game in the market since Pistons/Pacers Game 2 in ’04 (6.3).
(ESPN, Sports Business Daily)
