April 2019 Basketball Wiretap

2019 NBA Finals Ratings Up From 2017, 2018

Jun 14, 2019 10:58 AM

ABC's coverage of Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals in which the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors to win their first title drew a 13.2 overnight rating.

Game 6 peaked with a 17.5 rating, which was higher than any part of the 2018 NBA Finals.

The series finished with a higher rating than both 2017 and 2018, which were won handily by the Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The ratings also exclude Canadian viewers.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Masai Ujiri Accused Of Altercation With Deputy Following Game 6

Jun 14, 2019 12:36 PM

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said that a Toronto Raptors executive was involved in an altercation with a sheriff's deputy after game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Witnesses on the scene say that the altercation involved Masai Ujiri.

Sheriffs are calling the incident a misdemeanor battery on an officer and plan to hand the case to a district attorney. 

Ujiri was trying to walk onto the court for the Raptors' postgame celebration.

Kristofer Noceda/NBC Bay Area

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Draymond Green: 'We're Not Done Yet'

Jun 14, 2019 2:26 AM

Draymond Green and Steph Curry remained defiant that the Golden State Warriors' era wasn't over following their NBA Finals loss to the Toronto Raptors.

“I think everybody thinks it’s kind of the end of us. But that’s just not smart. We’re not done yet. We lost this year...I hear a lot of that noise, it’s the end of a run and all that jazz. I don’t see it happening though. We’ll be back," said Green.

Curry pointed to the character of the Warriors' roster for why the team would continue to build upon their 5-year run.

“Our DNA and who we are and the character that we have on this team, I wouldn’t bet against us being back on this stage next year and going forward. So really proud of the way that we fought until the end and this five-year run’s been awesome, but definitely don’t think it’s over.”

Bill DiFilippo/Dime Magazine

Tags: Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Raptors Win 2019 NBA Finals

Jun 14, 2019 12:28 AM

The Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 to win Game 6 and their first NBA championship. Kawhi Leonard was named Finals MVP for the second time in his career.

The Raptors beat the Warriors in all three games at Oracle Arena. The Warriors were attempting to win their third straight championship and fourth in five years.

Fred Van Vleet had 22 points with 12 in the fourth quarter to lead the Raptors' comeback in the fourth quarter.

Golden State lost Klay Thompson to a knee injury going up for a dunk in the third quarter. 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Marc Gasol Was Fouled Late In Game 5, According To Last Two Minute Report

Jun 12, 2019 2:39 AM

Marc Gasol should have been awarded two free throws after getting fouled by DeMarcus Cousins with 49 seconds left in game 5 of the NBA Finals, according to the NBA's Last Two Minute Report.

The Warriors lead 106-103 at the time of the missed call. Gasol drove to the lane and was fouled by Cousins before tumbling to the floor.

The NBA said Cousins initiated contact that affected Gasol's shot attempt. 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Marc Gasol, DeMarcus Cousins, Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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8.5 Million Canadians Watched Final Moments Of Game 5

Jun 11, 2019 4:53 PM

Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals drew an average audience of 6.4 million viewers in Canada with 8.5 million watching the end of the game. The total audience in Canada for the game was 13.4 million.

The game ranks as the 21st most watched sports broadcast on record in Canada and the most-watched NBA game ever in Canada. The previous high was 1.9 million less.

Sportsnet

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Ratings For Game 5 Of Finals Jumps 37 Percent From Game 4

Jun 11, 2019 4:14 PM

Game 5 of the 2019 Finals drew a 13.4 metered market rating and a spike of 37 percent from Game 4, which is the largest jump ever between Games 4 and 5.

The Golden State Warriors won the game over the Toronto Raptors with a final score of 106-105.

Kevin Durant returned for the game and was injured in the second quarter.

ABC's ratings exclude the Canadian market.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Kevin Durant Had Discomfort Pushing Off Right Foot Throughout Rehab

Jun 11, 2019 9:45 AM

Kevin Durant was working to speed up the recovery from his calf injury from the Western Conference Semifinals, but he was still experiencing discomfort pushing off his right foot. 

Sources told Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports that Durant was "in agony because he was unable to help his teammates."

Durant was not anywhere close to 100 percent despite being cleared, according to sources.

Durant's status was a talking point because he wasn't ruled out indefinitely.

Chris Haynes/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Warriors Believe Kevin Durant's MRI Will Confirm Torn Achilles

Jun 11, 2019 2:14 AM

The Golden State Warriors believe that an MRI will confirm that Kevin Durant tore his right Achilles' tendon, according to Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

An MRI will take place on Tuesday.

Bob Myers confirmed that Durant suffered an Achilles' injury in an emotional press conference following the game. 

Ramona Shelburne & Adrian Wojnarowski

Tags: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Kevon Looney Re-Aggravates Chest Injury, Vows To Play Through Pain

Jun 11, 2019 1:47 AM

Kevon Looney left game 5 of the NBA Finals in the second half after re-aggravating his right 1st costal cartilage non-displaced fracture injury.

Looney finished with 4 points and 3 rebounds in 18 minutes.

Looney vowed to get treatment and continue to play through the injury after the game, according to Mark Medina of The Mercury News.

Mark Medina/The Mercury News

Tags: Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Kevin Durant: I'm Hurting Deep In The Soul Right Now

RealGM Staff Report

Kevin Durant Helped Off Floor With Lower Leg Injury

Nick Friedell/ESPN

Kevin Durant Plans To Play In Game 5

Monte Poole/NBC Sports

Kevin Durant Listed As Questionable For Game 5 Following Practice

Nick Friedell/ESPN

Fred VanVleet To Wear Mouthpiece for Game 5

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Steve Kerr Says Kevin Durant Making Progress, Will Gauge Potential Return After Practice

Matt Schneidman/The Mercury News

Kevin Durant Cleared To Practice Sunday

Chris Haynes/Yahoo! Sports

Draymond Green Gave Locker Room Speech After Game 4 Loss

Sam Amick/The Athletic

Kevin Durant's Unknown Return Creating Confusion, Angst For Some Teammates

Sam Amick/The Athletic

Klay Thompson On Hamstring Injury: 'No One's Going To Feel Sorry For You'

Nick Friedell/ESPN

Kyle Lowry After Game 4: 'We Haven't Done Anything Yet'

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Fred VanVleet Credits Kawhi Leonard's 'Big-Boy Shots' In 3rd Quarter For Game 4 Turnaround

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Kawhi Leonard Credits Load Management For Success, Not Thinking About Free Agency

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Warriors Hope Kevin Durant Will Return For Game 5 Or Game 6

NBA.com

Kevin Durant Ruled Out Of Game 4 By Warriors

Marc Stein/New York Times

Game 3 Of 2019 Finals Draws 10.0 Overnight Rating

RealGM Staff Report

Warriors Hopeful Of Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant Returning For Game 4

Nick Friedell/ESPN

Marc Cuban On Adjusting Start Times Of NBA Games: 'Optimize For Television First'

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Kyle Lowry On Game 3 Of NBA Finals: 'I Play Better On The Road'

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

DeMar DeRozan On Raptors' Success: 'They Know I'm Rooting For Them'

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