Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SpursatPelicans

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

2. #2

   JazzatKings

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

3. #3

   HawksatMagic

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

4. #4

   CaliforniaatVirginia Tech

   CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 69

5. #5

   BucksatRaptors

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

6. #6

   PistonsatRockets

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

7. #7

   WizardsatMavericks

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

8. #8

   CavaliersatNets

   NBADown to the wire

   C

   41/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

9. #9

   FlamesatJets

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

10. #10

    SharksatDevils

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings11/25

    Comeback6/20

    Decided late4/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

11. #11

    Maple LeafsatSabres

    NHL· ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+

    D

    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late4/15

    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

12. #12

    WarriorsatTrail Blazers

    NBABack and forth

    D

    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings15/25

    Comeback11/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

13. #13

    TimberwolvesatLakers

    NBA· Prime Video

    D

    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings16/25

    Comeback11/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

14. #14

    MontanaatSacramento St

    CFB· ESPN2

    D

    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings15/25

    Comeback10/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 23

15. #15

    CelticsatKnicks

    NBA· Prime Video

    D

    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings14/25

    Comeback6/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth5/10

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

16. #16

    SunsatClippers

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings14/25

    Comeback3/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

17. #17

    HeatatGrizzlies

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback8/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

18. #18

    North TexasatCharlotte

    CFB· ESPN2One-sided

    D

    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 11

19. #19

    CapitalsatBlue Jackets

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

20. #20

    Boise StatNevada

    CFB· CBSSNOne-sided

    D

    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings0/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 2

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.