State-run CCTV to air Game 5 of NBA Finals. The news comes one year and one day after China pulled telecasts in the aftermath of comments made by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey in regards to pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. It is said CCTV has decided to bring back games in response to the NBA's financial assistance and goodwill while helping China in fighting Covid-19. The league desperately needs to reclaim its Chinese footprint as U.S. viewership of the NBA Finals has dropped to just over five million viewers, down from 30 million for the final game between Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz in 1998.