NBA Finals, one of the biggest debates around the series was how the ratings would play out. With both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers being small-market teams, many wondered whether fans would be tuning in.

Those numbers are an 18% ratings decline and 19% viewership decline from last year's NBA Finals opener in which the Boston Celtics faced the Dallas Mavericks. The decline would have been worse had Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers not launched a furious comeback in the final minutes to stun the Thunder.