The winner-take-all showdown between the Cavaliers and Warriors on Sunday night proved to be attractive television viewing.
Game 7 of the NBA Finals drew an 18.9 overnight rating for ABC, making it the highest-rated sports telecast on that network or ESPN since 2006.
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The local markets naturally led the way, with the game that clinched the Cavaliers' first title drawing a 46.3 rating in Cleveland and a 39.4 mark in San Francisco.
The star power involved also drew more national interest, with the overnight rating up from the last Finals Game 7 — a 17.7 for Heat-Spurs in 2013.
To compare deciding games between sports, the last Game 7 in a World Series, Royals-Giants in 2014, drew a 13.7 national rating, while the Bruins-Canucks Game 7 in the 2011 Stanley Cup final drew a record 4.8 rating.
The Super Bowl, of course, continues to trump all championship games, with Broncos-Panthers pulling a 49 rating earlier this year.
