Both NBA games on ABC Sunday suffered declines in overnight ratings, with the opener between the Pacers and Heat off by more than a quarter.
Game 1 of the Pacers/Heat second round NBA playoff series drew an 5.2 overnight rating, down 26% from Celtics/Heat Game 1 last year (7.0), but up up 11% from Jazz/Lakers Game 1 in 2010 (4.7).
Keep in mind last year’s Celtics/Heat game earned the highest NBA playoff overnight on ABC (excluding the finals) since 2004.
The 5.2 overnight is not the highest of the playoffs on ABC. Heat/Knicks Game 4 in the same timeslot a week earlier drew a 5.3.
Earlier Sunday, Game 7 of the Clippers/Grizzlies first round series drew a 3.8 overnight, down 7% from Grizzlies/Thunder Game 1 last year (4.1), but up 41% from Bucks/Hawks Game 7 in 2010 (2.7).
(Sunday’s numbers from Sports Business Daily)
