Worth the replay?

1. #1

   RaptorsatCeltics

   NBA· NBA TVDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   65/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

2. #2

   MavericksatLakers

   NBA· ESPNBig comeback

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension16/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

3. #3

   FlamesatMammoth

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

4. #4

   SenatorsatSabres

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   27/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

5. #5

   PanthersatRed Wings

   NHL· TNT/HBO Max

   D

   25/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

6. #6

   UTEPatSam Houston

   CFB· CBSSN

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late2/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 22

7. #7

   ClippersatKings

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

8. #8

   GrizzliesatHornets

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   12/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

9. #9

   BlackhawksatBlues

   NHL· TNT/HBO MaxOne-sided

   D

   12/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

10. #10

    DelawareatJax State

    CFB· ESPNOne-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 5

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.