Worth the replay?

1. #1

   MagicatPelicans

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   70/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

2. #2

   WizardsatNets

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

3. #3

   RocketsatWarriors

   NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

4. #4

   LakersatMavericks

   NBA· NBC/Peacock

   C+

   46/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

5. #5

   SunsatBulls

   NBA

   C+

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

6. #6

   GrizzliesatBucks

   NBA

   C

   40/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

7. #7

   RaptorsatCeltics

   NBA· NBA TVBack and forth

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension8/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

8. #8

   PacersatCavaliers

   NBA

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension12/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

9. #9

   HornetsatTimberwolves

   NBA

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

10. #10

    ClippersatKings

    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

11. #11

    JazzatThunder

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings0/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0

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.