It was a rough weekend for the NBA Playoffs on ESPN, as all five of the network’s telecast windows suffered double-digit declines compared to last year.
On Friday, Game 3 of the Lakers/Nuggets series drew a 2.6 overnight rating on ESPN, down 24% from Lakers/Hornets Game 3 in the same window a year earlier (3.4), but up 13% from Mavericks/Spurs Game 3 in 2010 (2.3).
Earlier in the night, Hawks/Celtics Game 3 drew a 2.0 overnight rating — down 29% from Celtics/Knicks Game 3 last year (2.8), but up 11% from Celtics/Heat Game 3 in 2010 (1.8).
Over on ESPN2, Bulls/Sixers Game 3 drew a 0.9 overnight, down a tick from Magic/Hawks Game 3 last year (1.0), and down 18% from Nuggets/Jazz Game 3 in a later timeslot in 2010 (1.1).
Keep in mind each of the 2010 games aired opposite second and third round coverage of the NFL Draft.
On Saturday, Game 4 of the Magic/Pacers series drew a 1.6 overnight rating, down 43% from Bulls/Pacers Game 4 on TNT in the comparable window last year (2.8), but up a tick from Magic/Bobcats Game 4 on TNT in 2010 (1.5).
Later in the day, Grizzlies/Clippers Game 3 drew a 2.2 overnight, down 19% from Mavericks/Trail Blazers Game 4 on TNT last year (2.7), but up 10% from Suns/Trail Blazers Game 4 on TNT in 2010 (2.0). The game faced hefty competition from the Kentucky Derby on NBC.
(Friday/Saturday numbers from ESPN)
