Worth the replay?

1. #1

   ClippersatRaptors

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   DucksatKings

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   Cavaliersat76ers

   NBA· ESPNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

4. #4

   ToledoatKent State

   CBB· CBSSNBack and forth

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

5. #5

   LightningatBlues

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

6. #6

   BullsatNets

   NBADown to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

7. #7

   TimberwolvesatRockets

   NBA· ESPNDown to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

8. #8

   CreightonatProvidence

   CBB· FS1

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

9. #9

   Colorado StatBoise St

   CBB· FS1Down to the wire

   C+

   54/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

10. #10

    PredatorsatAvalanche

    NHL· ESPN+

    C+

    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension27/30

    Swings19/25

    Comeback9/20

    Decided late9/15

    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

11. #11

    OhioatBall State

    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wire

    C+

    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension30/30

    Swings19/25

    Comeback3/20

    Decided late15/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

12. #12

    MarquetteatDePaul

    CBB· FS1

    C

    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension16/30

    Swings22/25

    Comeback13/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

13. #13

    SharksatRed Wings

    NHL· NHL Net

    D

    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension18/30

    Swings16/25

    Comeback4/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth7/10

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

14. #14

    PelicansatPacers

    NBA

    D

    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension11/30

    Swings15/25

    Comeback4/20

    Decided late3/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

15. #15

    Loyola ChicagoatDayton

    CBB· ESPN2Back and forthOne-sided

    D

    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

16. #16

    BayloratKansas

    CBB· FoxOne-sided

    D

    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings14/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

17. #17

    WizardsatKings

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension6/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

18. #18

    PanthersatHurricanes

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

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.