Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SunsatJazz

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

2. #2

   HawksatBulls

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   68/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

3. #3

   Magicat76ers

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   46/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

4. #4

   ThunderatMavericks

   NBA

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

5. #5

   NuggetsatTimberwolves

   NBA· Peacock

   C

   37/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension8/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

6. #6

   BluesatPenguins

   NHL· NHL Net

   D

   35/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

7. #7

   GrizzliesatWarriors

   NBA

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

8. #8

   Trail BlazersatLakers

   NBA

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension8/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

9. #9

   CavaliersatPistons

   NBA· PeacockOne-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

10. #10

    BruinsatSenators

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings11/25

    Comeback6/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

11. #11

    CelticsatPelicans

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension2/30

    Swings12/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late1/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

12. #12

    RaptorsatSpurs

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension9/30

    Swings5/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

13. #13

    CommandersatChiefs

    NFL· ABC/ESPNOne-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

14. #14

    NetsatRockets

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings2/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 2 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

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.