NBA Finals continue to soar on ABC

The NBA Finals continued their torrid ratings pace Tuesday night, with Game 3 posting the best numbers for any game so far in the series.

ABC posted a 13.7 metered-market household rating for the contest, according to Nielsen.

It marked the network’s highest-rated Game 3 ever, and it was up 33 percent from last year’s Game 3, which averaged a 10.3.

So far this series is on pace to be the highest-rated ever on ABC, which took over the rights to NBA coverage in 2003 from NBC.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 96-91 victory over the Golden State Warriors peaked with a 16.4 from 11:30 to 11:45 p.m. as the Cavs sewed up the win.

In Cleveland, the game became the most-watched NBA telecast on ESPN or ABC ever, drawing a 49.0 household rating. It topped Games 1 and 2, which had set the previous records.

In San Francisco, the Warriors’ home market, the contest averaged a 31.6, the second-highest-rated NBA game ever in the market on ABC or ESPN, behind Game 2’s 31.7.

The best-of-seven series remains in Cleveland for Game 4 on Thursday night, with the Cavs leading the series 2-1. Cleveland has never won an NBA title. The team’s first finals appearance in 2007 didn’t go well, as the squad was swept by the San Antonio Spurs.

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