Worth the replay?

1. #1

   BullsatWarriors

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   PacersatKings

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   67/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

3. #3

   HornetsatTrail Blazers

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   65/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

4. #4

   Grizzliesat76ers

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   61/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

5. #5

   SunsatBucks

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late9/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

6. #6

   CelticsatSpurs

   NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBack and forth

   C+

   51/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

7. #7

   MavericksatHawks

   NBA

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29

8. #8

   TimberwolvesatLakers

   NBA· NBC/Peacock

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

9. #9

   RaptorsatRockets

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

10. #10

    WizardsatHeat

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings2/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4

11. #11

    PistonsatNets

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings0/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0

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.