STANLEY CUP MAKES DECENT SHOWING AGAINST NBA CHAMPIONSHIP

Hockey’s Stanley Cup Finals went head-to-head against the second game of the NBA championships Sunday night and surprised everyone by posting its best ratings for a non-overtime Game 5 since 2002. The game, in which Chicago defeated Philadelphia 7-4, averaged 5.94 million viewers, peaking in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour with 6.91 million — a 54-percent boost over 2009’s contest between Detroit and Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the NBA contest between Los Angeles and Boston dominated the night as it averaged 11.1 million viewers, peaking in the final half-hour with 14.87 million. The game, in which the Celtics defeated the Lakers 101-96, drew the best ratings for a Game 2 since 2004.