Rockets-Warriors got off to a strong start in the overnight ratings; NASCAR Talladega overnights held steady at a multi-year low; Blue Jackets-Bruins scored a big increase on NBC.

Sunday’s Rockets-Warriors NBA semifinal Game 1 earned a 5.9 overnight rating on ABC, up 34% from last year (Jazz-Rockets Game 1: 4.4) and up 40% from 2017 (Jazz-Clippers Game 7: 4.2).

Excluding Christmas and the NBA Finals, Golden State’s win tied the highest NBA overnight on ABC since 2011 (Lakers-Mavericks Game 4: 6.5). Only Game 4 of Heat-Pacers in 2012 had as high an overnight over that span. Overnights peaked at an 8.1.

Last year’s Warriors-Rockets Western Conference Finals Game 1, which aired on TNT in primetime, had a 6.7 overnight.

Earlier in the day, Celtics-Bucks Game 1 had a 3.7 overnight — down 31% from Pacers-Cavaliers Game 7 last year (5.4), but up 16% from 2017 (Wizards-Celtics Game 1: 3.2). Boston’s win had a 14.3 rating in Milwaukee and a 9.3 in Boston, while Warriors-Rockets drew a 17.4 in the Bay Area and a 13.0 in Houston.

Figures for Saturday’s games on TNT were not available.