Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SpursatLakers

   NBA· ESPNDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   67/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

2. #2

   ThunderatTrail Blazers

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

3. #3

   WarriorsatKings

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

4. #4

   NetsatPacers

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

5. #5

   PelicansatMavericks

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

6. #6

   JazzatPistons

   NBABack and forth

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension11/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late2/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

7. #7

   TimberwolvesatKnicks

   NBA· ESPNBack and forth

   D

   30/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

8. #8

   HeatatNuggets

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension6/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

9. #9

   WizardsatCeltics

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   12/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

10. #10

    RocketsatGrizzlies

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings11/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

11. #11

    76ersatCavaliers

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

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.