CLEVELAND — Throughout the first half of the 2021-22 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers emerged as one of the NBA's most exciting young teams.
And Northeast Ohio has taken notice.
According to Bally Sports Ohio, which holds the Cavs' television rights, ratings for the team's games are up 78 percent at the NBA All-Star break compared to last season's ratings. Adjusted for the same number of games -- 58 -- the team's ratings are up 65 percent this season.
Altogether, Cleveland's regional ratings rank second in the NBA and are regularly the top or second-ranked telecast on a nightly basis. The Cavs' top-five rated games to this point in the season have been:
- Jan. 19 vs. Bulls
- Dec. 28 vs. Pelicans
- Dec. 15 vs. Rockets
- Feb. 4 vs. Spurs
- Jan. 4 vs. Grizzlies
Cleveland's rise in the ratings has come as the Cavs have put together their best season since LeBron James' free agency departure in 2018. Cleveland entered the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend -- which it also hosted -- tied for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference at 35-23.
The Cavs' jump from draft lottery team to contender has been propelled by the emergence of a pair of All-Stars in point guard Darius Garland and center Jarrett Allen. Cleveland also lays claim to the front-runner to win Rookie of the Year in big man Evan Mobley, as well as a promising core that also includes guards Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert.
Following the 2022 NBA All-Star break, the Cavs will return to action on Thursday when they face the Detroit Pistons.