Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SunsatNets

   NBA· NBA TVOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

2. #2

   JazzatSpurs

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

3. #3

   CelticsatRaptors

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

4. #4

   KingsatTrail Blazers

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

5. #5

   Magicat76ers

   NBA· NBA TV

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

Ranked from each game's win probability as it was played (ESPN's for football and basketball; ours, from the goals, for hockey): how in doubt it was near the end, how far the winner came back from, how late it was decided, how big its momentum swings were and how often a team erased a deficit, with a bonus for overtime. That drama is then weighted by how good a matchup it was going in (its pre-game Watchability score), so a thriller between top teams ranks above an equally wild game between minor ones.