Worth the replay?

1. #1

   TimberwolvesatPelicans

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   GrizzliesatSpurs

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

3. #3

   ThunderatWarriors

   NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wire

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

4. #4

   KnicksatCeltics

   NBA· NBC/PeacockBig comeback

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

5. #5

   Trail BlazersatRaptors

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   54/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

6. #6

   Wizardsat76ers

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   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.