Worth the replay?

1. #1

   ThunderatMagic

   NBABack and forth

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

2. #2

   CavaliersatBucks

   NBA· NBC/Peacock

   C

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

3. #3

   SunsatTimberwolves

   NBA

   D

   21/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

4. #4

   HeatatHornets

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   15/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

5. #5

   PacersatKnicks

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

6. #6

   PistonsatWizards

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   6/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings2/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

7. #7

   76ersatNuggets

   NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided

   D

   2/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings3/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

8. #8

   SpursatKings

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   2/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings2/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 2 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

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.