ABC's Airing Of The NBA Finals Game 5 Sees 36% Ratings Increase

ABC's exclusive coverage of The Finals Game 5 - Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics - delivered a 12.8 overnight rating, the highest of the series so far and a 36 percent increase from 2009 (Lakers vs. Orlando, 9.4 overnight).

Thursday night's Game 5 broadcast was the highest-rated show of the night for all of television, helping ABC to win the night for all networks in primetime, as was the case the previous four games. The game peaked with a 16.5 rating from 10:30-10:45 p.m. ET.

The broadcast received the highest Game 5 overnight rating since 2004 (Lakers/Detroit, 15.5 overnight rating), a mark that has been achieved by each game of The Finals.

Coverage will continue with Game 6 on Tuesday, June 15, at 9 p.m. on ABC and ESPN Radio. The Celtics currently lead the series 3-2, with the Lakers facing elimination in Game 6.