Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
The Dallas Mavericks’ title- clinching win over LeBron James and the Miami Heat drew 22 percent higher large-market television ratings than the equivalent game held last year.
Game 6 of the National Basketball Association Finals last night on ABC was seen in an average of 15 percent of households in the top 56 U.S. television markets, the Walt Disney Co. (DIS) network said, citing Nielson Media Research. That’s 22 percent higher than the 12.3 rating that Game 6 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics drew on a Tuesday night last year.
Yesterday’s contest also was the 25th straight time that an NBA Finals game was the highest-rated program of the night.
The Mavericks beat the Heat 105-95 at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami to win the best-of-seven series for its first title in franchise history. Dirk Nowitzki was named the series’ Most Valuable Player.
The rating for yesterday’s game was up 35 percent over the 11.1 rating the same two teams drew in 2006, when Miami clinched a title in Game 6.
To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at [email protected].