Worth the replay?

1. #1

   MagicatJazz

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   WizardsatGrizzlies

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   70/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

3. #3

   SunsatWarriors

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

4. #4

   Trail BlazersatKings

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   54/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

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

5. #5

   Mavericksat76ers

   NBABack and forth

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension16/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

6. #6

   CelticsatRaptors

   NBABack and forth

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension15/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

7. #7

   RocketsatNuggets

   NBA· NBA TV

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

8. #8

   LakersatClippers

   NBA· NBA TVOne-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension13/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

9. #9

   HornetsatPistons

   NBA· NBA TVOne-sided

   D

   16/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

10. #10

    PacersatPelicans

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings12/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    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.