Worth the replay?

1. #1

   RaptorsatHornets

   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

   JazzatThunder

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   MagicatNets

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   74/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

4. #4

   NuggetsatCeltics

   NBA· ESPNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B

   62/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

5. #5

   RocketsatTrail Blazers

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

6. #6

   BullsatPistons

   NBA

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

7. #7

   ClippersatKnicks

   NBABack and forth

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension6/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

8. #8

   LakersatSpurs

   NBA· ESPNOne-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

9. #9

   BucksatWarriors

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension7/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

10. #10

    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

11. #11

    PelicansatHawks

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension7/30

    Swings3/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

12. #12

    SunsatGrizzlies

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback2/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

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.