Posted Feb 20 2011 5:54PM
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- All-Star Saturday night was watched by 8.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched event in its 26-year history.
TNT says its coverage drew 23 percent more viewers than its previous record of 6.5 million in 2009.
Saturday's event, highlighted by Clippers rookie Blake Griffin leaping over a car to win the slam dunk contest, drew a 4.4 national rating, a 13 percent increase over the 3.9 in 2009.
The viewers and ratings were both more than 40 percent higher than last year, when the event featured a lackluster dunk contest in Dallas.
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