The 18-19 NBA regular season has opened with four straight declines.

ESPN's coverage of Pelicans-Rockets scored a 1.0 rating and 1.56 million viewers on ESPN, which was down 17 percent from last year.

The Pelicans’ blowout win was ESPN’s least-watched NBA season opener since 2009, when New Orleans faced San Antonio (1.2M).

ESPN's coverage of Mavericks-Suns was down 38 percent in ratings and 42 percent in viewership from last year.

ESPN had higher ratings for last week's Warriors-Lakers preseason game.