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

   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

3. #3

   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

4. #4

   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

5. #5

   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

6. #6

   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

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.