Worth the replay?

1. #1

   RocketsatTimberwolves

   NBA· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   HawksatPistons

   NBA· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   74/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

3. #3

   NetsatWarriors

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

4. #4

   HeatatCavaliers

   NBA

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

5. #5

   MavericksatNuggets

   NBADown to the wire

   C

   43/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43

6. #6

   ThunderatCeltics

   NBABig comeback

   C

   38/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension12/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

7. #7

   WizardsatJazz

   NBA

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

8. #8

   RaptorsatClippers

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings5/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

9. #9

   LakersatPacers

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   5/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings4/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

10. #10

    Bullsat76ers

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings4/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

11. #11

    BucksatTrail Blazers

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    3/100
    ▸ 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) = 3

12. #12

    SpursatGrizzlies

    NBAOne-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

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.