NBA playoff overnights were a mixed bag on ABC over the weekend, though the numbers were little changed from last year.
Saturday’s Warriors-Jazz NBA Playoffs Game 3 earned a 4.2 overnight rating on ABC, down a tick from Warriors-Blazers last year (4.3) but up 5% from Warriors-Grizzlies in 2015 (4.0). The 4.2 is ABC’s second-lowest for a primetime playoff game since Cavaliers-Hawks Game 3 in 2009 (4.0).
Despite the dip, Golden State’s win delivered the second-highest overnight of the weekend for any sporting event, trailing only the Kentucky Derby. Head-to-head, it topped the Penguins-Capitals NHL playoff game on NBC (2.8) and a Yankees-Cubs baseball game on FOX (1.5).
On Sunday, Cavaliers-Raptors Game 4 scored a 3.9 overnight — up a tick from Cavaliers-Hawks last year (3.8) but down 29% from Cavaliers-Bulls in 2015 (5.5). The Cavaliers’ win ranked second for the weekend among non-Derby events, topping NASCAR from Talladega head-to-head (3.4) — though the NASCAR race could still come out ahead in the final tally.
Overnights were not immediately available for Sunday’s primetime doubleheader on TNT.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily 5.8)
