Lakers’ Repeat Is Sweet for NBC

The Lakers’ NBA title repeat gave NBC its highest overnight ratings for the Finals since Michael Jordan’s last season.

Friday night’s Game 5 between the Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers had an overnight rating of 13.5 with a 24 share.

That gave NBC a five-game overnight average of 14.8/25, 7% higher than the Lakers’ championship last season against Indiana (13.8/24), and 26% higher than the 11.7/21 for the five-game series between New York and San Antonio in 1999.

The first five games of the 2000 NBA Finals averaged 13.1/23 on the overnights.

Overnight ratings measure the biggest U.S. TV markets, covering about 63% of the country.

It also was the best Game 5 since Jordan’s 1998 championship run with the Chicago Bulls, when NBC got a 20.7 rating and 36 share. NBC got a 12.1/22 last season.

Los Angeles posted the highest numbers with a 35.7 rating and 58 share. Philadelphia was second at 33.5/54. It was the first time in the series that Los Angeles had better ratings than Philadelphia.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ two-month search for a coach is over: John Lucas has the job.

Lucas, 47, who has had two stints as a coach in the NBA, reportedly accepted the position Friday.

Lucas, who spent the past three seasons as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets, told the Cavaliers that he would take the job, a league management source told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The team did not confirm the hiring, but spokesman Ed Markey said that an announcement was scheduled Tuesday at Gund Arena. The club is waiting until then to allow owner Gordon Gund to return from a vacation.

However, Denver Nugget spokesman Tommy Sheppard and Portland Trail Blazer General Manager Bob Whitsitt indicated that Lucas was headed to Cleveland.

Sheppard said Lucas hasn’t said anything to the team, but that “it sounds like it’s gone pretty far down the road.”

“It’s a compliment to the Nuggets for him to be hired,” Sheppard said. “I think he’s the ideal hire. We’ll miss him tremendously.”

Whitsitt, who had interviewed Lucas for the Trail Blazers’ coaching vacancy, said in a statement, “I wish John Lucas well, and he deserves another chance.”

The Cleveland Plain Dealer, citing sources close to the situation, reported Saturday that Lucas agreed to a three-year deal worth between $8 million and $9 million.

Lucas’ agent, Lonnie Cooper, was not available for comment.