START OF GAME 7 MOVED TO 5:30 P.M.

NBC has changed the starting time of Sunday`s possible Game 7 between the Bulls and Cavaliers series to 5:30 p.m., Chicago time. While the change was made at the request of the NBA, it certainly won`t hurt the network`s ratings getting a half-hour head start on CBS` monster hit ”60 Minutes.”

Why the Bulls? Because of overnight Nielsen numbers like Wednesday night`s telecast-12.2 rating with a 22 share, making it the highest-rated prime-time conference final game since 1988. In Chicago, WMAQ-Ch. 5 had a 42.3 rating and a 59 share.