Worth the replay?

1. #1

   LakersatSuns

   NBABig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

2. #2

   ThunderatBucks

   NBA· PeacockDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

3. #3

   WarriorsatTrail Blazers

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

4. #4

   RocketsatPelicans

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

5. #5

   PistonsatCavaliers

   NBA

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension9/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

6. #6

   BullsatNuggets

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   12/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

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.