The NBA Western Conference Finals got off to the best start in three years in the metered markets.
Game 1 of the Rockets/Warriors NBA Western Conference Finals drew a 5.4 overnight rating on ESPN Tuesday night, down 7% from Heat/Pacers on ABC last year (5.8) but up 38% from Grizzlies/Spurs on ABC in 2013 (3.9). Compared to Game 1 of last year’s Thunder/Spurs series on TNT, overnights increased 8% from a 5.0.
The 5.7 overnight is the highest for Game 1 of the Western Finals in three years — since Thunder/Spurs Game 1 in 2012 (5.7).
The Warriors’ win drew a 16.6 rating in Houston and a 15.6 in the Bay Area, each market’s second-highest non-Finals NBA rating (dates back to 2003).
(Tue. numbers from ESPN Media Zone)
