Finals Ratings Best Since ’98

CLEVELAND (AP) — The first two games of the NBA Finals have been blowout wins by the Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they've drawn plenty of television viewers.

The Nielsen company says the games have averaged 19.6 million viewers, a five percent increase over last year's finals and the most since Michael Jordan's last title with the Chicago Bulls against the Utah Jazz in 1998. Sunday's game averaged 20.1 million viewers and peaked at 23.1 million.

The Warriors opened the series with a 113-91 rout of the Cavaliers on Thursday and pulled away for a 132-113 victory on Sunday.

The finals shift to Cleveland for Game 3 on Wednesday.