Worth the replay?

1. #1

   LakersatRockets

   NBA· Peacock/NBCSNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

2. #2

   SunsatCeltics

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

3. #3

   SpursatClippers

   NBA· NBCSN Extra

   C

   35/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension15/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

4. #4

   WarriorsatWizards

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension14/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

5. #5

   MavericksatPelicans

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

6. #6

   GrizzliesatBulls

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   12/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

7. #7

   MagicatHawks

   NBA· Peacock/NBCSNOne-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ 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) = 9

8. #8

   Trail BlazersatNets

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   3/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings4/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 5 × 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.