With the Warriors looking like they might suffer their first loss of the postseason, Game 3 of the NBA Finals hit a series-high in the metered markets.
Wednesday’s Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Finals Game 3 earned a 13.4 overnight rating on ABC, up 14% from last year (11.8) but down 2% from 2015 (13.7), both of which featured the same two teams.
The 13.4 trails only 2015 as the highest for Game 3 of the NBA Finals since Lakers-Sixers in 2001 (16.1).
Golden State’s narrow win peaked with a 15.6 from 11:30-11:45 PM ET, easily the highest and latest peak of the series. Last year’s Game 3, a 30-point Cleveland blowout, peaked with a 13.4 from 10:15-10:30. Game 3 two years ago, which Cleveland won by five, peaked with a 16.4 from 11:30-11:45.
Cleveland led all markets with a 35.3 rating, down 4% from last year (36.7) and down 28% from a whopping 49.0 in 2015, still the market’s highest NBA rating. The Bay Area turned in a 32.7, up 7% from last year (30.7) and up 4% from 2015 (31.6). Columbus (20.6, +17%), Memphis (19.4, +32%) and Atlanta (18.6, +19%) rounded out the top five.
[Wed. numbers from ESPN PR 6.8]
