ESPN’s Second Highest Rated NBA Conference Finals Game 3 Ever

Last night’s Golden State Warriors victory over the Portland Trail Blazers is now ESPN’s second highest rated NBA Conference Finals Game 3 ever, according to Nielsen. The telecast delivered a 5.4 metered market rating, up 17 percent from the 2017 Western Conference Finals Game 3 – the last time ESPN televised the Western Finals. It is also up six percent from ESPN’s Eastern Conference Finals coverage last year.

Saturday night’s ESPN telecast peaked with a 6.2 metered market rating from 11:30-11:45 p.m. ET. The top five highest rated local markets were San Francisco (21.4), Portland (19.6), Sacramento (9.4), Salt Lake City (8.1), and New Orleans (7.0).

Last night’s Game 3 is only behind ESPN’s Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics Game 3 in 2012 (5.6 metered market rating) as the network’s highest rated Conference Finals Game 3 ever. Additionally, Game 3 of the 2009 NBA Western Conference Finals – Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets – drew a 6.6 metered market rating on ABC.

Through 27 games, ESPN and ABC’s 2019 NBA Playoffs coverage is averaging a 3.6 metered market rating, up three percent from 2018 and up nine percent from 2017.

The 2019 NBA Western Conference Finals continue with Game 4 on Monday, May 20, at 9 p.m. ET. In addition to the game telecast, ESPN is offering several alternative viewing experiences on the ESPN App and ESPN2.

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