Worth the replay?

1. #1

   GrizzliesatSpurs

   NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

2. #2

   PistonsatHawks

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

3. #3

   CelticsatNets

   NBABack and forth

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

4. #4

   WarriorsatMagic

   NBA

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

5. #5

   SunsatTrail Blazers

   NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

6. #6

   JazzatLakers

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   15/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

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.