Lakers point guard Steve Nash splits the defense of Knicks guards Jason Kidd, left, and Raymond Felton during a drive. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / December 25, 2012) |
The Lakers' win over the New York Knicks on Christmas Day (100-94) brought in big television numbers, according to ESPN/ABC.
The 5.9 overnight rating was the best ever for ABC in the "early window of a doubleheader" on the Christmas holiday. Last year's Boston Celtics/Orlando Magic matchup in the same time slot brought in 5.3.
Locally, the game had the sixth-best rating for an NBA regular season game on ABC at 11.9. In New York, the game brought in a 9.2 rating, which is the third-best regular season game in the market.
The Clippers hosted the Denver Nuggets in the evening, bringing in a 2.0 overnight. While that's significantly lower than the Lakers/Knicks game, it ranked as the second-highest "ESPN Christmas Day prime-time game ever."
The second ABC game, featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder visiting the Miami Heat, actually out-drew the Lakers/Knicks with a 6.0 overnight rating, the fourth highest-rated NBA regular season game ever on the network.
The Oklahoma City market certainly tuned in with a 23.2 rating, highest ever on ABC in the area.
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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
