LeBron James and the Cavaliers boosted ABC yet again.
Game 4 of the Cavaliers/Celtics NBA playoff series drew a 4.2 overnight rating on ABC Sunday afternoon, up 14% from Bulls/Wizards last year (3.7) but down a tick from Knicks/Celtics in 2013 (4.3). Excluding Christmas Day, the 4.2 is tied as the fifth-highest overnight for an early afternoon NBA game on ABC.
Dating back to the regular season, six of the Cavaliers’ seven appearances on ABC have had increases in overnight ratings. The lone exception was Cavaliers/Rockets on March 1 (3.7), for which no year-over-year comparison was available.
Later in the day, Game 4 of the Clippers/Spurs series drew a 5.0 overnight — even with Clippers/Warriors last year (5.0) and up 4% from Heat/Bucks in 2013 (4.8). Keep in mind last year’s game received extra media attention due to an off-court controversy.
The 5.0 for the Clippers’ win is the second-highest of the season for any NBA game, trailing only Cavaliers/Heat on Christmas Day (5.5).
(Wknd. overnights via Sports Business Daily)
