Worth the replay?

1. #1

   NetsatKings

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

2. #2

   TimberwolvesatCeltics

   NBA· NBC/PeacockBig comeback

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension14/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

3. #3

   RaptorsatSuns

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   11/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

4. #4

   Trail BlazersatNuggets

   NBA· NBA TVOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

5. #5

   WizardsatKnicks

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   2/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings0/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 3 × 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.