2017 NBA Finals Ratings After 2 Games Highest Since Michael Jordan's Final Title

Blowout victories from the Golden State Warriors in the first two contests of the NBA Finals didn't turn away the viewers.

The Associated Press cited Nielsen company numbers Monday and noted the first two games of the third straight showdown between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers averaged 19.6 million viewers, which is a 5 percent increase from last year.

According to the AP, Sunday's Game 2 averaged 20.1 million viewers, which was the highest for an NBA Finals Game 2 since Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls battled the Utah Jazz in 1998.

Those viewers have been treated to pure dominance through two games.

Golden State steamrolled the Cavs by 22 points in Game 1 and scored 132 points in a 19-point win in Game 2. The Warriors still haven't lost through 14 games in these playoffs and are two more wins away from taking the Larry O'Brien Trophy back from Cleveland.

Fans love star power, so it is no surprise so many have tuned in despite the blowouts. Between LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, there are enough superstars to host an All-Star Game in between Finals contests.

There are also plenty of storylines in play between history (this is the first time in league history two teams have played in three straight Finals), the narrative of Durant forming a superteam and the 3-1 redemption tour for Golden State.

Cleveland overcame a 3-1 deficit in last year's Finals and will have to overcome a 2-0 one this year as the Finals shift back to Ohio for Wednesday's Game 3. If the first two games are any indication, plenty of people will watch to see if the Cavaliers can complete another comeback.