Steph Curry OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 04: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in overtime against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the 2015 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 4, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Going into the NBA Finals matchup between the Cavs and Warriors, many sports media pundits expected a ratings boon for ABC. Through one game, those pundits are looking pretty bright. Game 1 on Thursday night drew a monstrous 12.9 overnight rating, marking the highest-rated NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC ever, and the highest-rated on any network since Nets-Lakers in 2002 on NBC.

Game 1 this year was also up a monstrous 24% for Game 1 of Heat-Spurs a year ago, which drew a 10.4. Locally, Game 1 drew a 41.4 in Cleveland and a 28.9 in San Francisco, both all-time highs for the NBA on ABC in those markets.

Sports Media Watch dug a little deeper, and found some staggering nuggets about that Game 1 overnight. The 12.9 was more than a full point higher than any Game 1 rating between that Nets-Lakers series in 2002 and last night’s game. It was up 63% from Game 1 of Cavs-Spurs in 2007, Cleveland’s last appearance in the Finals. Every game in last year’s Heat-Spurs series had a lower rating than Cavs-Warriors last night.

All in all, this is a massive triumph for the NBA, and ABC/ESPN. Given how dramatic last night’s game went, I’d expect the ratings to continue thriving as the series goes along. Imagine if this series goes seven games – we could be venturing into historic territory.

[ESPN]

About Joe Lucia

I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.

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