Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CavaliersatWarriors

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

2. #2

   PelicansatTrail Blazers

   NBA

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

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

3. #3

   TimberwolvesatPistons

   NBA· Prime VideoBack and forth

   C+

   52/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension29/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

4. #4

   SunsatHornets

   NBA

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

5. #5

   SpursatClippers

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

6. #6

   LakersatThunder

   NBA· Prime VideoOne-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.