All-Star game ratings are best since 2013

CaptionCloseEastern Conference small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) slam dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)Eastern Conference small forward...

All-Star game ratings are best since 2013

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Eastern Conference small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) slam dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Eastern Conference small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) slam dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald

Western Conference guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (30) slam dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, Pool)

Western Conference guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (30) slam dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert,

Eastern Conference guard John Wall, of the Washington Wizards (2), makes a dunk during the first half of the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Eastern Conference guard John Wall, of the Washington Wizards (2), makes a dunk during the first half of the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans,

Western Conference guard Klay Thompson Golden State Warriors (11) shoots over Eastern Conference guard Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics (4)during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Western Conference guard Klay Thompson Golden State Warriors (11) shoots over Eastern Conference guard Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics (4)during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA All-Star game drew an average audience of 7.8 million viewers, making it the most-viewed All-Star broadcast since 2013.

Turner Sports announced the numbers on Monday. The number of viewers peaked at 8.5 million and the total audience was up 3 percent from last year's game.

The hype surrounding the game centered on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook playing on the Western Conference team together. Durant left Oklahoma City last summer to join Golden State, leaving his longtime teammate Westbrook behind with the Thunder. Westbrook did not hide his dissatisfaction with Durant, which ratcheted up the intrigue heading into the game on Sunday.

The two shared the court for just 81 seconds and Oklahoma City posted the highest local market rating with a 10.9.

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