Finals Not Big Hit in N.Y.

The NBA Finals are a lot bigger in Los Angeles than they are in New York.

While Game 1 got a 35.4 rating with a 53 share in L.A., New York managed only a 14.4/23.

Ten markets got a better rating than New York’s 14.4. Second behind L.A. was Memphis with a 17.2.

Chicago, Indianapolis and New Orleans were among the other markets that got a better rating than New York.

Meanwhile, interest in L.A. seems to be building. Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against Sacramento got a 17.9/39 in L.A., while Game 7 got a 36.9/52.

Wednesday’s game did better in L.A. than Game 1 last year, when Philadelphia handed the Lakers their only postseason loss. That game drew a 32.9/51.

However, nationally there was a drop-off. Wednesday’s game got a 10.6 national rating with a 20 share, a 15% decrease from the 12.4/23 for Game 1 last year.

Game 1 of the 2000 finals between the Lakers and Indiana drew a 10.5 national rating, the lowest for a Game 1 since 1986.

A rating point represents the percentage of all TV households, whether television is being watched or not. A share represents the percentage of TV households where television is being watched.