Worth the replay?

1. #1

   RaptorsatNuggets

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   67/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

2. #2

   Trail BlazersatTimberwolves

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   67/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

3. #3

   KnicksatNets

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

4. #4

   CelticsatGrizzlies

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late9/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

5. #5

   WarriorsatPistons

   NBA

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

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

6. #6

   HawksatRockets

   NBA· NBA TVOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

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.