Overnight ratings increased slightly for the final game of the NBA season.
Game 5 of the Heat/Spurs NBA Finals earned an 11.7 overnight rating on ABC Sunday night, up 3% from the same match-up last year (11.4) but down 7% from Thunder/Heat in 2012 (12.6). The 2012 game was the most recent Game 5 clincher.
Sunday’s 11.7 overnight is easily the highest of the series, but also ranks as the lowest rated NBA Finals clincher in the metered markets since Lakers/Magic Game 5 in 2009 (9.4). Overall, Game 5 ranks eighth out of the twelve NBA Finals clinchers on ABC, ahead of only the Spurs’ victories against the Nets (9.1) and Cavaliers (7.8) and Miami’s victory over Dallas (11.1).
The 11.7 is the second-highest for a Game 5 involving the Spurs, trailing only Spurs/Knicks in 1999 (11.9). It ranks third among Game 5 telecasts to involve the Heat.
Locally, Game 5 earned a 27.6 rating in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale — down 4% from last year (28.8) and down 32% from Miami’s clinching victory in 2012 (40.3). The game drew a 42.6 in San Antonio, up 13% from last year (37.6) but down 5% from Spurs/Pistons Game 5 in 2005 (45.0).
The 42.6 in San Antonio is the market’s lowest for any NBA Finals game in which the Spurs had an opportunity to clinch the series (eight telecasts). The previous low was a 46.4 for last year’s Game 7.
(Sun. numbers from ESPN Media Zone)
