Warriors vs. Cavaliers Game 1 Was ABC's Highest-Rated Finals Opener of All Time

When LeBron James and Stephen Curry meet on the court for titanic clashes, basketball fans around the country tune in at historic rates. At least, that's what Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals taught us.

According to ESPN (via USA Today's AJ Neuharth-Keusch), Thursday night's series opener between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors was the highest-rated Game 1 ever to air on ABC. Nielsen ratings indicated the epic showdown pulled in a 13.1 overnight rating, which broke last year's record of 12.9.

Sports Business Daily's Austin Karp reported Thursday's Game 1 recorded the best ratings for an opening title tilt since the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers produced a 15.2 overnight when they met in the 2001 NBA Finals on NBC. 

The Warriors ran away with a 104-89 victory thanks to the superlative play of their bench down the stretch, but the defending champions weren't always in prime position to assume a 1-0 series lead.

Despite entering halftime down nine points, the Cavaliers opened the third quarter on a 21-11 run and took a one-point lead with three minutes, 57 seconds remaining in the frame. Not surprisingly, the game's viewership peaked when the Cavs closed the gap.

According to Neuharth-Keusch, "Thursday night's game peaked with a rating of 14.8 between 10:45 and 11 p.m. ET, right around the time the Cavs took their first lead since the opening minutes of the game."

Cleveland's offense proceeded to stall down the stretch, and the Warriors notched their only 30-point quarter of the game in the fourth to ice things away.

The Cavaliers now have two days off to prepare for Game 2 and mock up a blueprint that will allow them to steal home-court advantage and return to Quicken Loans Arena with the series tied 1-1.

Game 2 will tip off from Oracle Arena on Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.