The 2015 NBA Finals is the highest-rated ever on ABC through the first two games, according to Nielsen.
The series — currently even at one game apiece after the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 95-93 in overtime Sunday night — is averaging a 12.9 overnight rating.
The NBA Finals continued to set records Sunday as it generated a 12.9 overnight rating, making it the highest-rated NBA Finals Game 2 ever on ABC.
The broadcast peaked with a 16.9 from 11 p.m.-11:15 p.m. ET. The rating was up 26 percent from a 10.2 for Miami-San Antonio last year.
For the 44th consecutive time, the NBA Finals is expected to win the night across all of television.
Game 2 delivered a 42.1 rating in the Cleveland market and a 31.7 in the San Francisco market. Both are records for an NBA game on ABC (or any ESPN network) and also up from their previous records, which were set for Game 1 of this series.
The best-of-seven series heads to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday. A Game 5, now assured, will be played next Sunday back in Oakland.
“NBA Countdown,” which included special guest Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, delivered a 3.5 overnight rating, up 17 percent from last year’s Game 2 pre-game show.