Despite hitting another multi-year low, the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals held up well on the lowest rated night of the week.
Game 3 of the Cavaliers/Raptors NBA Eastern Conference Finals had a 4.2 overnight rating on ESPN Saturday night, down 7% from Warriors/Rockets last year (4.5) and down 14% from Pacers/Heat in 2014 (4.9).
Compared to Game 3 of last year’s Hawks/Cavaliers ECF on TNT, which aired on a Sunday night, overnights dropped 24% from a 5.5.
The Raptors’ win earned the lowest overnight for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals since at least 2007, falling below the previous mark of 4.4 for Celtics/Magic in 2010. Regardless of conference, it was the lowest rated Game 3 in the metered markets since Spurs/Grizzlies in 2013 (3.9).
With that said, the 7% decline was easily the smallest of the series. Games 1 and 2 dropped by 24% and 21%, respectively. Further, Saturday’s game had a higher overnight than Game 1 (4.1) and came close to Game 2 (4.4), despite airing on the lowest rated night of the week.
Though the Raptors won more games than the Thunder this season, they were widely considered pushovers by NBA pundits — and their performance in Games 1 and 2 backed up casually tossed-off predictions of a sweep. Saturday’s numbers indicate that the series may have some room for growth should it become more competitive.
(Sat. numbers from ESPN)
