Worth the replay?

1. #1

   PistonsatMagic

   NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wire

   B+

   65/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

2. #2

   ThunderatSuns

   NBA· NBCSN/Peacock

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

3. #3

   TimberwolvesatNuggets

   NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

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.