LeBron James and the Cavaliers gave TNT a lift Sunday night.
Game 4 of the Cavaliers/Pistons NBA playoff series had a 3.4 overnight rating on TNT Sunday night, up 21% from Rockets/Mavericks last year (2.8) and even with Rockets/Blazers in 2014. The Cavaliers’ series-clinching win was the top game of the weekend on cable.
Overnights for the three other games on TNT were not available, but the network averaged a 2.3 for the weekend — even with last year, according to Sports Business Daily.
On ESPN, Saturday’s Thunder/Mavericks Game 4 had a 2.1 overnight — down 9% from Warriors/Pelicans last year and Heat/Bobcats in 2014 (2.3 both years). Clippers/Blazers Game 3 had a 2.1 later in the night, up a tick from Grizzlies/Blazers last year (2.0) and down 36% from Thunder/Grizzlies in 2014 (3.3).
Shifting to Friday, Cavaliers/Pistons Game 3 had a 2.1 overnight (+5%) and Spurs/Grizzlies Game 3 had a 2.0 (-26%) on ESPN. Hawks/Celtics Game 3 had a 0.8 on ESPN2, up 60% from Raptors/Wizards last year (0.5) but down a third from Raptors/Nets in 2014 (1.2).
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily, ESPN)
