Game 1 of the NBA Finals did not draw as well as some expected, but still drew the second-highest overnight of any sports program since the Super Bowl.
Game 1 of the Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals averaged a 10.4 overnight rating on ABC, up 32% from a 7.9 for Cavaliers/Spurs last year. The 10.4 overnight is the highest for Game 1 of the NBA Finals since 2004, when Lakers/Pistons Game 1 drew an 11.6 on a Sunday night. The game peaked with a 12.3 from 11:30 to 11:45 PM.
The first fifteen minutes of the game (from 9:00 to 9:15 PM) drew the lowest rating, averaging a mere 7.7. Excluding those first fifteen minutes, the overnight rating was 10.6.
The 10.4 overnight makes Game 1 only the sixth NBA Finals game in the past three years to draw a double-digit overnight rating. Game 1 also drew the second-lowest overnight for an NBA Finals game involving the Lakers since at least 1987. Game 2 of the 2002 Finals drew a 10.3 on a Friday night.
In Los Angeles, the game drew a 22.8 rating, down 22% from a 29.3 for Game 1 of the 2004 Finals between the Lakers and Pistons. In Boston, the game drew a 21.7.
Considering the hype for this series, the 10.4 overnight could be considered a major disappointment. NBA Finals games typically see big drops from the overnight to the final, putting Game 1 on pace for a rating in the 8.5 – 9.1 range.
That being said, the 10.4 overnight for Game 1 is higher than the 9.5 for last month’s Kentucky Derby, the 8.9 for the final round of The Masters, and the 9.6 for the Final Four. In fact, the 10.4 for Game 1 is the second-highest overnight for any sporting event since the Super Bowl, behind only the 12.8 for college basketball’s national championship game.
In prime time, from 9:00 to 11:00 PM, Game 1 averaged a 9.2 overnight. From 11:00 to midnight, the game averaged a 12.0 rating.
NBA Finals Game 1 overnights.
10.4: Lakers/Celtics Game 1 (Thu., Jun. 5, 9 PM ABC); final rating fell 16%.
7.9: Cavaliers/Spurs Game 1 (Thu., Jun. 7, 9 PM ABC); final rating fell 20%.
9.3: Heat/Mavericks Game 1 (Thu., Jun. 8, 9 PM ABC); final rating fell 16%
8.8: Pistons/Spurs Game 1 (Thu., Jun. 9, 9 PM ABC); final rating fell 18%.
11.6: Pistons/Lakers Game 1 (Sun., Jun. 6, 9 PM ABC); final rating fell 16%.
8.1: Nets/Spurs Game 1 (Wed., Jun. 4, 8:30 PM ABC); final rating fell 21%.
13.0: Nets/Lakers Game 1 (Wed., Jun. 5, 9 PM NBC); final rating fell 18%.
15.2: 76ers/Lakers Game 1 (Wed., Jun. 6, 9 PM NBC); final rating fell 18%.
12.6: Pacers/Lakers Game 1 (Wed., Jun. 7, 9 PM NBC); final rating fell 18%.
11.7: Knicks/Spurs Game 1 (Wed., Jun. 16, 9 PM NBC); final rating fell 2%.
18.8: Bulls/Jazz Game 1 (Wed., Jun. 3, 9 PM NBC); final rating fell 4%.
