LeBron James, Cavaliers' Win over Pacers Highest Rated 1st-Round Game Since 2004

LeBron James playing in big games equals even bigger ratings.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 7 matchup with the Indiana Pacers delivered the highest-rated first-round playoff game in more than 14 years, per ESPN's Ben Cafardo. ESPN's Darren Rovell noted the last first-round game that drew a higher rating was a 2004 matchup between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.

That Lakers team featured a peak-feuding Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, along with Hall of Famers Gary Payton and Karl Malone.

It's not hard to see some similarities here. Both games featured generational talents in the midst of a tumultuous season, all with the potential of a breakup lingering over everyone's heads. The Lakers would advance to the Finals before losing to the Detroit Pistons, but most felt we were watching the last games of Shaq and Kobe together during those playoffs.

Some went into Sunday thinking they may be seeing LeBron in a Cavs uniform for the final time. The four-time MVP can become an unrestricted free agent this summer and is shouldering a bigger load than he has perhaps at any point in the last decade. He recorded 45 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the Cavs' 105-101 win, moving his record to 13-0 in first-round matchups.

"I'm burnt right now," James told reporters. "I'm not thinking about Toronto right now until tomorrow. I'm ready to go home. Can we? I'm tired. I want to go home."

The Cavs and James will have an even more difficult matchup when they play the top-seeded Toronto Raptors in Round 2. Toronto is also determined to exorcise its postseason demons, which have included being eliminated by Cleveland the last two years.