Worth the replay?

1. #1

   JazzatGrizzlies

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

2. #2

   CavaliersatWizards

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   72/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

3. #3

   TimberwolvesatWarriors

   NBA· NBA TVDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

4. #4

   BullsatHornets

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

5. #5

   Pacersat76ers

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

6. #6

   NetsatMavericks

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

7. #7

   HawksatPistons

   NBA· NBA TVOne-sided

   D

   11/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

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.