RATINGS HOT FOR NBA FINALS; SO IS ARENA

All of its competition melted like everything in the AT&T Center in San Antonio as ABC’s coverage of Game One of the NBA Finals averaged 12.61 million viewers, rising to 13.28 million in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour, more than all of the other networks combined. The game, played in sweltering heat due to the failure of the arena’s air-conditioning system, saw LeBron James, the star of the Miami Heat (with a capital H) leave the game temporarily in the third period after suffering cramps apparently due to dehydration, then again in the fourth quarter. James later said that he experienced cramps through the entire left side of his body, forcing him to miss the final four minutes of play. James, who is a spokesman for Powerade, took a ribbing from Gatorade in tweets during and after the game. When one confused fan asked Gatorade, “Where’s all your sports science magic for preventing cramps in your No. 1 client?” the sports drink giant replied, “The person cramping wasn’t our client. Our athletes can take the heat.”