Lakers And Rockets Fight, ESPN Wins With Best Opening Week Rating Since 2014

LeBron James’ home debut with the Los Angeles Lakers ended up being a memorable one Saturday, and not just because of King James. An on-court brawl in the pivotal final minutes of a close game between the Lakers and the Houston Rockets all but marred James’ debut, though ESPN won’t complain as the primetime game gave the network its best rating for an opening-week NBA matchup since 2014.

The game, which the Rockets eventually pulled away to win 124-115, scored a 2.5 metered market rating for ESPN, the highest-rated NBA regular season game on the network since April 2016 and its best early number for a Saturday game ever. It drew a stellar 3.7 rating in the Los Angeles market a.nd a 4.8 rating in Houston; the game spiked with a 2.9 during crunch time.

Three players were ejected in the brawl, which began when the Lakers’ Brandon Ingram shoved the Rockets’ James Harden. Houston’s Chris Paul and the Lakers’ Rajon Rondo soon traded swings; Ingram, Rondo and Paul were eventually tossed when order was restored. James, meanwhile, finished with 24 points, five rebounds and five assists as the Lakers are now 0-2 on the young season.

ESPN’s start to the NBA season has been solid, with its opening doubleheader Friday seeing gains year-over-year. Toronto’s victory over Boston drew a 1.5 metered market rating, while Golden State’s victory over Utah in the nightcap hit a 1.8.

James settling in Los Angeles has been the big story of the NBA season, and has translated into strong ratings already. The Lakers’ opening game Thursday — a loss at Portland — drew a 2.6 rating on TNT, up 63% in metered markets compared with the same game a year ago, when the Lakers faced the rival Clippers.

The Lakers resume play Monday but are off Tuesday, when the Los Angeles Dodgers open the World Series with Game 1 in Boston. The Dodgers clinched the spot in the Fall Classic for a second straight year with a 5-1 victory in Milwaukee on Saturday in a matchup that overlapped the Lakers-Rockets showdown.