The final game of the Grizzlies/Thunder series could not quite measure up to last year’s comparable matchup.
ABC drew a 5.1 overnight rating for Game 7 between the Grizzlies and Thunder on Sunday afternoon, down 7% from last year (BOS/ORL G1: 5.5), and down 9% from 2009 (HOU/LAL G7: 5.6). Game 7 was the first NBA playoff game on ABC this season to have a decline versus last year.
Though down from last year, the game drew the fourth-highest overnight of the playoffs on ABC (nine telecasts), behind only Celtics/Heat Game 1 (7.0), Heat/Celtics Game 3 (5.8), and Lakers/Mavericks Game 4 (6.5). Overnights for the playoffs on ABC are available at the bottom of this post.
On Friday, Game 6 of the series drew a 2.9 U.S. rating and 4.750 million viewers on ESPN. There was no comparable Friday night game last year or in 2009.
In Oklahoma City, Games 6 and 7 drew ratings of 22.5 and 23.4, respectively. Local ratings for the Memphis market were not available.
Bulls/Hawks Ratings: The deciding Game 6 between the Bulls and Hawks earned a 3.1 U.S. rating and 5.085 million viewers on ESPN Thursday night, down 46% in ratings and 43% in viewership from last year (CLE/BOS G6: 5.7, 8.983M), but flat in ratings and up 6% in viewership from 2009 (BOS/ORL G6: 3.1, 4.785M).
Last year’s comparable game was LeBron James‘ much-hyped final game with the Cavaliers.
Overnights For the NBA Playoffs on ABC Entering the NBA Finals
(This year’s numbers from Turner Sports, The Oklahoman, Son of the Bronx 1, 2)
