Ratings for the NBA Conference Finals remain strong, but off last year’s blistering pace.
Tuesday’s Celtics/Magic Game 2 drew a 4.6 U.S. rating and 7.2 million viewers on ESPN, down 8% in ratings and 12% in viewership from Nuggets/Lakers Game 1 on the comparable night last year (5.0, 8.1 mil), but up 24% and 32%, respectively, from Pistons/Celtics Game 1 in ’08 (3.7, 5.4 mil).
Compared to Game 2 of last year’s Magic/Cavaliers East Final, which aired on TNT on a Friday night, Tuesday’s game was up 5% and 4%, respectively, from a 4.4 and 6.9 million viewers.
Though down from last year, Tuesday’s game compares favorably to past seasons.
While nine of last year’s eleven Conference Final games on cable drew ratings higher than 4.6, only six of the previous sixty (2003-08) hit that mark. Two of those six games were series-clinchers, and four of the six took place during the Lakers/Timberwolves West Final in ’04.
