A testy series opener between the Heat and Celtics drew strong numbers for ESPN Saturday night.
Game 1 between the Heat and Celtics drew a 2.9 overnight rating on ESPN Saturday night, up 26% from Mavericks/Spurs Game 1 last year (2.3), up 21% from Mavericks/Hornets Game 1 in ’08 (2.4) and up 93% from Magic/Pistons Game 1 in ’07 (1.5).
The 2.9 overnight was tied as the highest of the weekend for an NBA Playoff game on cable.
Later in the night, Jazz/Nuggets Game 1 drew a 2.4 overnight, even with Rockets/Blazers Game 1 last year, down 4% from Jazz/Rockets Game 1 in ’08 (2.5), and up 33% from Jazz/Rockets Game 1 in ’07 (1.8).
The first game of ESPN’s tripleheader, Game 1 of the Bucks/Hawks series, drew a 1.8 overnight rating. There was no game in the comparable timeslot (5:30 PM ET) during the previous three years.
(ESPN)
