ESPN's Coverage of NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 Up 30 Percent From 2017

ESPN's coverage of NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 - the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers to take a 3-2 series lead - delivered a 5.7 metered market rating, up 30 percent from Game 5 of the same matchup last year. It was the highest-rated telecast of the night across television based on metered market ratings from Nielsen.

This is now ESPN's highest-rated Conference Finals in six years, since Boston vs. Miami in 2012. The 2018 Eastern Conference Finals is averaging a 5.8 metered market rating through five games. Overall, the 2018 NBA Playoffs on ESPN is averaging a 3.4 metered market rating, up 17 percent from last year.

Wednesday's Game 5 telecast peaked with a 7.0 rating from 10:45-11 p.m. ET. The top five local markets were Cleveland (21.3), Boston (14.4), Columbus (11.0), Providence (9.9) and New Orleans (8.9).

The series will continue with Game 6 on Friday, May 25, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN, the ESPN App, ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes. NBA COUNTDOWN will precede the game with a one-hour pre-game show starting at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App.