The NBA just keeps on winning. According to Nielsen the 2015 NBA Finals is the most-watched and highest-rated NBA Finals ever on ABC through three games. The series is averaging 18,463,000 viewers (P2+) and a 10.8 U.S. household rating, up 25 and 21 percent, respectively, from last year’s Miami-San Antonio series.
The Cavaliers are now holding a 2–1 series over the Warriors, with Game 4 tipping off later on tonight. Both of the first two games went into overtime at Golden State’s Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif, and the last game proved just how dominant Lebron James can really be.
Tuesday night’s Game 3 also drew an 11.1 U.S. household rating, making it ABC’s highest-rated Game 3 ever. The peak rating was a 13.8 from 11:30-11:45 p.m. The rating was up 26 percent from an 8.8 for last year’s Game 3.
The NBA Finals propelled ABC to win the night for the 45th consecutive time across all of television (broadcast and cable) and across all key demos. Game 3 nearly doubled its competition Tuesday night. Keep in mind that ratings represent the percentage of U.S. homes with televisions tuned to a program.
LeBron James is averaging 41.5 points per game so far in #NBAFinals. That would be the highest average EVER. pic.twitter.com/dy1611OUHK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 10, 2015
From what we’ve seen so far the Warriors simply have no absolute answer for LeBron James, and I cannot forget to mention that their their offense continues to depend heavily on mid-range jumpers and three-point shots. Plus, this Warriors team has zero inside scoring and continues to struggle when the game is at a slow pace. With that pace, the Cavs will look to take a 3-1 lead as game 4 is set to kick-off tonight at 9 p.m. on ABC. Mike Breen, in his record-setting 10th season as the voice of The Finals, will continue to provide commentary with analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson and reporter Doris Burke.
