As was the case in the regular season, it was Cavaliers or bust for ABC on the first weekend of the NBA Playoffs.
Game 1 of the Celtics/Cavaliers NBA playoff series drew a 4.5 overnight rating on ABC Sunday afternoon, up 13% from Bobcats/Heat last year (4.0) but down a tick from Lakers/Spurs in 2013 (4.6). The 4.5 is the fourth-highest for an opening weekend playoff game on ABC since the network resumed airing games in the 2002-03 season.
Only Lakers/Spurs in 2013, Hornets/Lakers in 2011 (4.6) and Lakers/Timberwolves in 2003 (5.1) earned a higher overnight.
The Cavaliers’ win earned a 20.9 rating in Cleveland and a 7.5 in Boston, each market’s fourth-highest first round rating on record (presumably dates back to 2002).
On Saturday, Pelicans/Warriors Game 1 drew a 3.2 overnight — down 9% from Warriors/Clippers last year (3.5) and down 14% from Celtics/Knicks in 2013 (3.7). The 3.2 is the lowest for an opening weekend playoff game on ABC since 2009, when Pistons/Cavaliers drew a 2.7.
With NASCAR rained out, the NBA on ABC generated the weekend’s two highest rated sporting events in the metered markets.
(Wknd. numbers from ESPN Media Zone, Sports Business Daily)
