OAKLAND (KRON/AP) — More than 20.5 million people tuned in to watch the Warriors take the 3-2 lead over the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals on Sunday.
Game 5 drew its highest television rating in more than a decade. Golden State’s 104-91 win over the Cavaliers averaged an 11.6 rating. That’s the best since the Pistons-Lakers Game 5 in 2004; that was a clincher, which traditionally draws larger audiences.
In the Bay Area, the broadcast generated a 33.6 rating, an all-time best for an NBA game on ABC.
ESPN said Monday that viewership was up 15 percent for Game 5 from the nearly 17.9 million for last year’s matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat, which was a clinching game.
Ratings represent the percentage of U.S. homes with televisions tuned to a program.