Lakers-Rockets Game Six Sets ESPN Hoops Mark

Game six of the NBA Western Conference Semifinal series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets Thursday night—won by the Rockets 95-80, although the Lakers prevailed in the series by taking game seven 89-70 Sunday night—was ESPN’s most-viewed basketball telecast ever.

The game earned a 5.4 rating, drawing an average of 5.306 million households and 7.352 million viewers.

ESPN’s previous record was 4.99 million households and 6.602 million viewers for game six of the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons on May 31 of that year.