Lakers-Celtics game earns NBA’s highest rating in four years

NEW YORK — The Christmas Day game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics was the highest-rated regular-season NBA game in four years.

The rematch of last season’s NBA finals earned a 5.3 fast national rating on ABC, the network said.

The rating for the Lakers’ 92-83 victory, which snapped Boston’s 19-game winning streak, was 51 percent higher than the 3.5 mark for last year’s late Christmas game between the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns.

The early game on Thursday between the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns received a 3.2 household rating, up 3 percent from last year’s early Christmas game pitting Miami and Cleveland. Roger Mason hit a 3-point shot at the buzzer to give the Spurs a 91-90 win.

The rating is the percentage of those watching a program among homes with televisions.

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