Worth the replay?

1. #1

   PelicansatBucks

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   TimberwolvesatRaptors

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

3. #3

   NuggetsatKnicks

   NBA· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

4. #4

   GrizzliesatKings

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

5. #5

   CelticsatRockets

   NBA

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

6. #6

   ThunderatSpurs

   NBA· ESPN

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

7. #7

   CavaliersatClippers

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

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.