Worth the replay?

1. #1

   RocketsatPacers

   NBABack and forth

   C+

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

2. #2

   PelicansatHornets

   NBABig comeback

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

3. #3

   TimberwolvesatGrizzlies

   NBA· Peacock

   D

   25/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

4. #4

   76ersatClippers

   NBA· PeacockOne-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

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.