• by Wayne Friedman , June 5, 2017

Although the NBA Finals has not been very competitive so far, TV networks are still interested in the league’s two most high-profile teams -- now playing in the big event for a record three years in a row.

Viewership for the first two games of Golden State Warriors-Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals this year is up 5% on ABC in total Nielsen viewers to 19.2 million, versus the same two games of a year ago, and 4% higher than the first two games in 2015.

It’s the most-watched NBA Finals through two games since 1998.

Sunday’s Game 2 earned 19.7 million viewers in the preliminary Nielsen estimates; Game One posted 18.7 million viewers. Game One had a 6.9 rating in Nielsen adults 18-49, down 5% from last year’s 7.3 number.

ABC says the live streaming of the two games has added to its exposure. The network says average minute streaming is 410,000; last year it averaged around 350,000.

Last year’s seven-game series, where the Cavaliers were crowned champions, posted an linear TV average 20.2 million viewers, and a strong 30.8 million viewers for game seven -- 17% higher than Game Seven in 2015.