Knicks/Lakers was the only NBA game on Christmas Day to have an increase from last year.
The Knicks/Lakers NBA regular season game drew a 5.9 overnight rating on ABC Tuesday afternoon, up 5% from Heat/Mavericks last year (5.9), and up 11% from Celtics/Magic in 2010 (5.6).
The 5.9 overnight is the highest ever for the early Christmas Day NBA game on ABC.
Later in the day, Thunder/Heat earned a 6.0 — down 6% from Bulls/Lakers last year (6.4), and down 18% from Heat/Lakers in 2010 (7.3). Despite the decline, the 6.0 ranks as the fourth-highest regular season NBA overnight on ABC since the network reacquired the rights.
Over on ESPN, Celtics/Nets drew a 2.7 overnight, down 34% from Celtics/Knicks on TNT last year (4.1), but even with Bulls/Knicks on ESPN in 2010 (2.7). Keep in mind last year’s Celtics/Knicks game was the first of the abbreviated NBA season.
In primetime, ESPN scored a 1.7 for Rockets/Bulls — down 11% from Magic/Thunder last year (1.9), but up 21% from Nuggets/Thunder in 2010 (1.4).
The Nuggets/Clippers nightcap earned a 2.0, down 13% from Clippers/Warriors last year (2.3), but up 54% from Trail Blazers/Warriors in 2010 (1.3).
NBA Christmas Day Overnights
Past three seasons
|
Time (ET)
|
Away | Home | Net | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noon | Celtics | Nets | ESPN |
2.7
|
4.1
|
2.7
|
| 3 PM | Knicks | Lakers | ABC |
5.9
|
5.6
|
5.3
|
| 5:30 PM | Thunder | Heat | ABC |
6.0
|
6.4
|
7.3
|
| 8 PM | Rockets | Bulls | ESPN |
1.7
|
1.9
|
1.4
|
| 10:30 PM | Nuggets | Clippers | ESPN |
2.0
|
2.3
|
1.3
|
(Tuesday’s numbers from ESPN Media Zone)
