Worth the replay?

1. #1

   KingsatWizards

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

2. #2

   JazzatRaptors

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   C+

   52/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

3. #3

   LakersatKnicks

   NBA· NBC/Peacock

   D

   31/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension11/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

4. #4

   ClippersatSuns

   NBA

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

5. #5

   MagicatSpurs

   NBA

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension7/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

6. #6

   BucksatCeltics

   NBA· ESPNOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

7. #7

   CavaliersatTrail Blazers

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

8. #8

   ThunderatNuggets

   NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

9. #9

   NetsatPistons

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   5/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings4/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

10. #10

    BullsatHeat

    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

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.