Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SpursatGrizzlies

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   70/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

2. #2

   MavericksatKings

   NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

3. #3

   CavaliersatPacers

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

4. #4

   LakersatPelicans

   NBABig comebackBack and forth

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

5. #5

   MagicatWizards

   NBA

   C+

   52/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

6. #6

   HeatatTimberwolves

   NBA· NBC/Peacock

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

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.