Overnight ratings for Game 2 of the NBA Finals declined slightly compared to last year.
Thursday’s Mavericks/Heat Game 2 earned a 10.5 overnight rating, down 4% from last year (BOS/LAL G2: 10.9), but up 6% from 2009 (ORL/LAL G2: 9.9).
Despite the decline, the 10.5 is the third-highest overnight for Game 2 of the NBA Finals over the past ten seasons, trailing only last year and 2004 (DET/LAL G2: 12.3).
In addition, this marks the highest overnight for Game 2 of a non-Lakers NBA Finals since 1998 (CHI/UTA G2: 18.8). Game 2 of Knicks/Spurs in 1999 — which aired on a Friday night — drew a 10.0.
In 2006, Heat/Mavericks Game 2 drew a 9.1 overnight. One year later, Cavaliers/Spurs Game 2 (LeBron James‘ second NBA Finals game) drew a 6.9.
The 10.5 overnight for Thursday’s game also marks a slight decline from Tuesday’s Game 1 (10.7). This is the 11th time in the past fourteen NBA Finals that the overnight rating for Game 2 declined from Game 1.
Since the current NBA Finals schedule (Thursday/Sunday/Tuesday) began in 2004, final ratings for Game 2 have declined between 12% and 19% from the overnight, putting Thursday’s game on pace to finish in the 8.5-9.2 range.
In 2006, the 8.0 final rating for Mavericks/Heat Game 2 was just 12% lower than the 9.1 overnight. A 12% decline from this year’s 10.5 overnight would result in a 9.2 final rating.
Game 2 drew a 35.3 rating in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, up 58% from the second game in 2006 (22.3), and the highest rating ever for an NBA game in the market.
In Dallas-Ft. Worth, Game 2 drew a 25.6 rating, down 25% from 2006 (33.9). By comparison, Game 2 of the Giants/Rangers World Series drew a 30.9 rating in the market.
Overnight Ratings For Game 2 of the NBA Finals
Dating Back to 2001
(This year’s numbers from espnmediazone3.com)
