Worth the replay?

1. #1

   ClippersatWizards

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

2. #2

   CelticsatPistons

   NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   61/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

3. #3

   BucksatHawks

   NBA· PeacockDown to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

4. #4

   Pacersat76ers

   NBA

   C

   41/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

5. #5

   SunsatNets

   NBA

   D

   32/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

6. #6

   HeatatWarriors

   NBA

   D

   21/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension6/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

7. #7

   MavericksatKnicks

   NBA· NBC/Peacock

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

8. #8

   ThunderatCavaliers

   NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

9. #9

   JazzatSpurs

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   6/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings6/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

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.