Knicks draw strong ratings

By Neil Bestneil.best@newsday.comApril 18, 2011

BOSTON -- The Knicks' first postseason game in seven years was a hit with New York-area viewers, averaging 8.86 percent of homes on three channels -- TNT, MSG and MSG Plus.

TNT's telecast secured a 5.38 rating, with MSG averaging 3.29 and MSG Plus (which simulcast the MSG coverage) adding 0.19. There are about 7.5 million homes in the New York TV market.

(MSG's top regular-season rating was 6.75 for Carmelo Anthony's Knicks debut in February, its best such figure since 1995.)

In the first playoff round, games on TNT or ESPN also are carried by a local channel.

TNT's play-by-play man for Game 1 was Marv Albert. MSG's was his son, Kenny, working the first NBA playoff game of his career. Mike Breen will work Game 2 for MSG.

Nationally, the Knicks and Celtics averaged 3.6 percent of homes and 6 million viewers on TNT, part of the top-rated playoff opening day in Turner's 27 seasons carrying the NBA.