Worth the replay?

1. #1

   MagicatSuns

   NBA· NBA TVOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   RocketsatKnicks

   NBA· ABCDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

3. #3

   76ersatPelicans

   NBABig comebackBack and forth

   C

   39/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

4. #4

   GrizzliesatHeat

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

5. #5

   PistonsatBulls

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

6. #6

   KingsatSpurs

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ 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) = 7

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.