ESPN and ABC’s NBA Christmas coverage averaged a 3.9 metered market rating across its four games, up 39 percent compared to a 2.8 for its five-game schedule last year, based on metered market ratings from Nielsen.

Highlights:

• The Philadelphia 76ers 105-98 win over the New York Knicks averaged a 2.4 metered market rating, matching last year as ESPN’s best 12 p.m. ET (noon) Christmas window since 2012;

• The NBA Finals rematch, in which the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-92, delivered a 5.5 metered market rating, matching the fifth-highest rated early ABC window ever on Christmas;
• The Washington Wizards 111-103 victory over the Boston Celtics generated a 3.7 metered market rating, up nine percent from last year’s comparable game – the Chicago Bulls vs. the San Antonio Spurs, which drew a 3.4;
• The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 112-107 victory over the Houston Rockets on ABC drew a 4.1 metered market rating, making it the highest-rated prime-time NBA Christmas broadcast since 2003.

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