Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CelticsatRaptors

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   A+

   86/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.91 (pre-game Watchability 82) = 86

2. #2

   CavaliersatKnicks

   NBA· ESPNDown to the wire

   A

   76/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.93 (pre-game Watchability 86) = 76

3. #3

   ThunderatTrail Blazers

   NBADown to the wire

   A

   76/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 94) = 76

4. #4

   NuggetsatGrizzlies

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 60) = 48

5. #5

   MagicatJazz

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   C

   42/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.65 (pre-game Watchability 29) = 42

6. #6

   WarriorsatRockets

   NBA· ESPN

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.88 (pre-game Watchability 76) = 34

7. #7

   WizardsatPacers

   NBA

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 42) = 29

8. #8

   SpursatBulls

   NBABig comeback

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 22) = 28

9. #9

   NetsatPelicans

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 18) = 10

10. #10

    LakersatBucks

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings3/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.53 (pre-game Watchability 7) = 4

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.