Oakland, Calif. (AP) – Country group Rascal Flatts and eight-time Grammy winner Usher will perform the national anthem before the NBA Finals games in Cleveland.
Rascal Flatts will have the honors before Game 3 on Tuesday night. Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus, members of the trio that has sold nearly 23 million albums and had 15 No. 1 songs, are from Columbus. Joe Don Rooney is the third member.
The NBA says Monday that Usher, who became a Cavaliers part-owner in 2005, will follow in Game 4 on Thursday.
Usher has sold more than 65 million albums, with songs such as “Yeah!” among his hits.
Game 2 of the Finals has drawn its highest television rating in more than a decade.
The short-handed Cavs’ overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night to even the series at 1-1 averaged a 10.5 rating on ABC. That’s the best since the Pistons-Lakers series in 2004.
ESPN said Monday that the nearly 18.8 million viewers were up 26 percent from the 14.9 million for last year’s matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.
Ratings represent the percentage of U.S. homes with televisions tuned to a program.