Tnt’s Ratings Explode With Magic

Magic Johnson’s return to the NBA gave Turner Sports its highest late-night NBA rating ever, the network said Wednesday.

TNT made some late changes to televise Johnson’s return to the Lakers Tuesday night in Los Angeles against the Golden State Warriors, and it paid off with a 4.4 Nielsen cable rating.

It’s the highest NBA rating on either TNT or TBS this season and meant the game was seen in about 2,929,000 American homes.

The game was televised beginning at 7:30 p.m. PST as the second half of a doubleheader.

The first game, Chicago at Houston, had a 4.3 rating and was seen in about 2,862,000 homes.

Those two games are the third and fourth highest-rated regularseason games ever on either TNT or TBS. TNT’s season average now is 2.0, up 33 percent from last year’s 1.5. The season average for TBS, which does Wednesday night games, is at 2.1, up 40 percent from last year’s 1.5. TNT also will televise Friday night’s late-night Bulls-Lakers game. Tipoff is 7:30.