Worth the replay?

1. #1

   TimberwolvesatKings

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

2. #2

   MavericksatHeat

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

3. #3

   PistonsatPacers

   NBA

   C+

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

4. #4

   JazzatWarriors

   NBA

   C

   43/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43

5. #5

   CavaliersatRaptors

   NBA· Peacock

   C

   37/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

6. #6

   RocketsatSuns

   NBA· Peacock

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

7. #7

   NuggetsatGrizzlies

   NBA

   D

   21/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension16/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

8. #8

   BullsatPelicans

   NBA

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

9. #9

   Trail BlazersatBucks

   NBA

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

10. #10

    KnicksatNets

    NBABack and forthOne-sided

    D

    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings12/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

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.