Lakers help TNT to big-time ratings (the Clippers were there too)
TNT announced Wednesday afternoon that its Tuesday night doubleheader of Cleveland-Boston followed by the Lakers-Clippers was its most-watched two-headed night since Feb. 2, 1996. The Lakers were part of that doubleheader bonanza as well, playing the Chicago Bulls after a Phoenix-Cavaliers game.
The Lakers got their rings, TNT was able to give shots of Lamar Odom's new wife, Khloe Kardashian, Kobe Bryant smiled sincerely when Tex Winter was honored in an after-the-third-quarter ceremony, and so it's no surprise that ratings soared. It was a Hollywood event.
About 3.7 million tuned in to the games, according to TNT, and that also meant it was the network's most-watched opening night in its 26 years of doing NBA telecasts.
Oh, and TNT analyst Charles Barkley went out on a limb. He said, "The Clippers and Oklahoma City are both going to have a better record than the Golden State Warriors." And he said that even knowing Blake Griffin has the broken kneecap thing.
Also, NBA.com noted a 121% increase in video-stream viewing and a 25% increase in total Web page views. You are all multitasking it seems.
-- Diane Pucin
