Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CavaliersatNets

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

2. #2

   TimberwolvesatNuggets

   NBA· ABCBack and forth

   C

   38/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension12/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

3. #3

   BucksatBulls

   NBABig comeback

   C

   36/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

4. #4

   PistonsatMagic

   NBA

   D

   31/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension8/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

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

5. #5

   GrizzliesatPacers

   NBA

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension16/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29

6. #6

   76ersatCeltics

   NBA· NBC/Peacock

   D

   25/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension11/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

7. #7

   SpursatKnicks

   NBA· ABC

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

8. #8

   PelicansatClippers

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ 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) = 8

9. #9

   Trail BlazersatHawks

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

10. #10

    ThunderatMavericks

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings4/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

11. #11

    KingsatLakers

    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.