Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CavaliersatHeat

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

2. #2

   WarriorsatSpurs

   NBABig comeback

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

3. #3

   Trail BlazersatPelicans

   NBA

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension29/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

4. #4

   BullsatPistons

   NBA

   C

   39/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension28/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

5. #5

   SunsatMavericks

   NBA

   C

   35/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

6. #6

   NuggetsatClippers

   NBA

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29

7. #7

   MagicatKnicks

   NBA· ESPN

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension6/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

8. #8

   BucksatHornets

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   15/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

9. #9

   HawksatKings

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

10. #10

    GrizzliesatCeltics

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings8/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

11. #11

    LakersatThunder

    NBA· ESPNOne-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings4/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

12. #12

    WizardsatRockets

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings0/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 3 × 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.