More than 12.2 million American households tuned in to watch the Boston Celtics defeat the Dallas Mavericks to clinch the NBA Championship during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on ABC this week.
The figure, based on Nielsen data, was released by ESPN, which produces the NBA Finals for ABC. The Walt Disney Company owns the ABC broadcast network and a controlling share of ESPN.
“ABC’s exclusive coverage of the Boston Celtics decisive, record-setting NBA Championship victory over the Dallas Mavericks won the night across all of television and in all key demographics for every night of the NBA Finals, according to Nielsen,” an ESPN spokesperson said in a statement.
Game 5 of the NBA Finals drew 12.224 million viewers to ABC throughout the night, with the game peaking at 13.280 million viewers.
ESPN and ABC will now shift their focus toward the NBA Draft, which will extend across two nights this year. The NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27.
