All-Star Game Hardly First-Rate

Two NBA regular-season games and the third round of a PGA Tour golf tournament got higher TV ratings than those of the NHL All-Star game.

NBC’s broadcast of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 86-81 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, which started at 2:30 p.m. PST, drew a 3.3 overnight rating, the highest for a sporting event Saturday.

The Utah Jazz’s 97-96 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, on NBC at noon PST, had a 2.5 rating.

Coverage of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on CBS drew a 3.0 from noon-3 p.m. PST.

That was the same time slot as the NHL’s All-Star game, which produced a 2.0 rating--27% lower than last year--on ABC.

The rating is the percentage of all homes with TVs, whether or not they are in use. Overnight ratings measure the 53 largest TV markets in the United States, covering about 65% of the country.