The 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs have reached record-breaking television viewership. According to ESPN, Game 4 on ABC averaged 20.9 million viewers as the Knicks defeated the Spurs 107-106. This marks the largest audience for an NBA Finals Game 4 since 1998, the final championship run of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. The viewership for Game 4 was 123 percent higher than the same game in last season’s finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, reaching a peak of 23.2 million concurrent viewers. The Knicks secured the victory by overcoming a 29-point second-half deficit, with an OG Anunoby tip-in providing the winning point with one second remaining. This win puts New York ahead 3-1 in the series. The New York Times reports that the combination of the New York market and stars Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson has contributed to the massive audience. Also, Game 3 averaged 23.8 million viewers and peaked at 26.2 million, making it the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 since the 1998 Bulls-Jazz series. The series has been characterized by close finishes. The Lufkin Daily News reports that the final moments of each of the first four games featured a margin of four points or less in the final minute, a trend not seen since 1973. In those four games, the Knicks led by four with 58 seconds to go in Game 1, won by one in Game 2, lost by four in Game 3, and won by one again in Game 4. Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday in San Antonio. The New York Knicks are seeking their first NBA championship in 53 years, while the San Antonio Spurs are looking to halt the Knicks’ lead in the series.