Worth the replay?

1. #1

   MavericksatMagic

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   70/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

2. #2

   WarriorsatRockets

   NBA· Prime VideoOvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   68/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

3. #3

   BullsatSuns

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   52/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

4. #4

   LakersatNuggets

   NBA· Prime VideoDown to the wire

   C+

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

5. #5

   PelicansatKings

   NBABack and forth

   D

   27/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension9/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

6. #6

   RaptorsatTimberwolves

   NBABack and forth

   D

   26/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26

7. #7

   JazzatWizards

   NBA

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension14/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

8. #8

   NetsatHeat

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

9. #9

   PistonsatSpurs

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

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.