The San Antonio Spurs’ series clinching victory over the Denver Nuggets Wednesday (May 4) was the highest-rated Spurs telecast on FSN Southwest in three years and the third highest of all-time, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 99-89 win in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference opening round playoff series delivered a 17.1 Nielsen household rating and a 25 share in San Antonio, making it the most watched program of the night in the market.

The BUSCH LIGHT SOUTHWEST SPORTS REPORT, which immediately followed with postgame interviews, highlights and analysis, received a 10.6 household rating and a 22 share. It was the nightly sportscast’s second highest rating ever, finishing just behind the March 6, 2005 show (10.8) that featured Sean Elliott’s retired number ceremony.

An average of 128,000 San Antonio households tuned in to the game, while 79,000 homes watched the BUSCH LIGHT SOUTHWEST SPORTS REPORT postgame show.

It was the highest-rated Spurs telecast on FSN Southwest since a 17.2 on May 10, 2002 for Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference semifinal series against the Los Angeles Lakers. The all-time record rating for a Spurs telecast on FSN Southwest is 19.0 set in Game 2 of the 2001 Western Conference Finals against the Lakers on May 21, 2001.

The game drew its biggest audience in the final 30 minutes, registering a 20.0 rating and 34 share as the Spurs took control late in the fourth quarter.

A television rating represents the percentage of television homes in the market tuned to a program. The share reflects the percentage of television homes in use at the time watching a program.