NEW YORK — Television ratings for the NBA finals are up big from last season but falling short of the last time the Lakers were involved.

Game 2 on Sunday drew an 8.5 fast national rating on ABC, the network said today. That's an increase of 52 percent from the 5.6 last year for the Spurs-Cavaliers series.

But the Boston Celtics' 108-102 win over Los Angeles didn't come close to the Game 2 rating during the Lakers' previous finals appearance in 2004. That matchup between LA and the Detroit Pistons earned a 10.7.

The rating is the percentage watching a program among homes with televisions.