Worth the replay?

1. #1

   LakersatKings

   NBABack and forth

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

2. #2

   NetsatSpurs

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

3. #3

   CelticsatPistons

   NBA

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension28/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

4. #4

   PacersatTimberwolves

   NBABack and forth

   B

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

5. #5

   BucksatCavaliers

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

6. #6

   Trail BlazersatClippers

   NBA

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

7. #7

   HornetsatWizards

   NBABig comebackBack and forth

   C

   40/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension7/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

8. #8

   RaptorsatMavericks

   NBA

   D

   30/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension7/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

9. #9

   KnicksatHeat

   NBA

   D

   25/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension7/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

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.