Worth the replay?

1. #1

   TimberwolvesatSpurs

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   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

   ThunderatHeat

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

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

3. #3

   WizardsatNuggets

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

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

4. #4

   SunsatKnicks

   NBA· NBA TVDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

5. #5

   LakersatTrail Blazers

   NBA· NBA TVOne-sided

   D

   15/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

6. #6

   CelticsatHawks

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   11/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

7. #7

   HornetsatWarriors

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   11/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

8. #8

   JazzatMavericks

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   3/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings4/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 4 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3

9. #9

   PacersatPistons

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   2/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings2/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 2 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

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.