Worth the replay?

1. #1

   BucksatThunder

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

2. #2

   SunsatBulls

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   68/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

3. #3

   TimberwolvesatPacers

   NBA· NBA TV

   C+

   52/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension27/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

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

4. #4

   MagicatGrizzlies

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

5. #5

   WarriorsatTrail Blazers

   NBA· NBA TV

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension25/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

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.