As goes without saying, it was also the least-watched Finals opener on record. The previous low was 9.21 million for Cavaliers-Spurs in 2007. The Lakers’ easy win, in which they led by as many as 32, sank 48% in ratings and 45% in viewership from Warriors-Raptors last year (7.9, 13.38M) and 59% and 58% respectively from Cavaliers-Warriors in 2018 (10.0, 17.67M), which aired as scheduled in late May.
As goes without saying, it was also the least-watched F…
April 17, 2021 | 4:49 pm EDT Update
Lakers not visiting White House this month
Dave McMenamin: The Lakers will not visit the White House and President Joe Biden to celebrate their 2020 NBA championship when the team travels to Washington, D.C. to play the Wizards later this month, a source tells ESPN. A future visit has not been ruled out completely, the source says.
Mike Trudell: Update: Markieff Morris and Dennis Schroder are both available to play today.
Eric Walden: Quin, on being without Donovan for at least a week: “It’s a challenge for us to play without him, and obviously we want to get him back as soon as possible. … Hopefully we can try to improve in some other ways.”
Eric Walden: Asked what he’s looking for with so many guys out, Quin said: “It’s difficult to play the way we normally would, but it puts a premium on ball movement, particularly against the Lakers’ pressure. We’re gonna have to run as much as we can, have some guys be really aggressive.”
Gophers senior forward Brandon Johnson declared for the NBA draft on Thursday but said he will keep open the option to return to college.
April 17, 2021 | 3:07 pm EDT Update
Donovan Mitchell to be re-evaluated in a week
Sarah Todd: Following an MRI and clinical evaluation, Donovan Mitchell suffered a significant right lower ankle sprain. He will be re-evaluated in one week.
