Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SunsatPistons

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

2. #2

   GrizzliesatHawks

   NBA

   C

   36/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

3. #3

   TimberwolvesatBucks

   NBA

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

4. #4

   Knicksat76ers

   NBA· NBA TVOne-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

5. #5

   LakersatKings

   NBA· NBA TVOne-sided

   D

   15/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

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.