NBA Playoff ratings increase on cable. (UPDATED)

Through at least the first weekend, viewers are flocking back to the NBA Playoffs.

ESPN and TNT averaged 2.9 million viewers for six playoff games last weekend, up 26% from last year, with four of the six games drawing double-digit increases. Three NBA Playoff games finished in the Top 40 most watched programs on cable last week, with Hawks/Celtics Game 1 finishing #18.

Despite having two of the three games it televised actually drop in the ratings, TNT finished #2 for the week behind USA Network. Hawks/Celtics drew a 2.2 national rating with 3.4 million viewers, up 13% from Warriors/Mavericks Game 1 last year. Meanwhile, 76ers/Pistons finished with 3 million viewers, down 5% from Nuggets/Spurs in '07. The least watched playoff game of the weekend was Raptors/Magic, which was the only game to draw fewer than 2 million viewers.

ESPN finished #6 for the week on cable, thanks in part to major increases for its Saturday coverage. The network saw a whopping 94% increase for Wizards/Cavaliers Game 1, which drew 2.8 million viewers at 12:30 PM on Saturday.

Both Western Conference games televised by ESPN joined Hawks/Celtics in the Top 40 for the week; Mavericks/Hornets and Jazz/Rockets drew 3.1 million viewers -- up 69% and 34%, respectively, from last year.

The success of last weekend has continued through this week. Through nine games, TNT is averaging a 2.1 rating, up 16% from last year. The network has seen increases of 25% to 30% across all male demographics.