Worth the replay?

1. #1

   LakersatRockets

   NBA· Prime VideoOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   LightningatCanadiens

   NHL· TNT/truTV/HBO MaxOvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   OilersatDucks

   NHL· TNT/truTV/HBO MaxBack and forth

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

4. #4

   Celticsat76ers

   NBA· Prime VideoDown to the wire

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

5. #5

   SpursatTrail Blazers

   NBA· Prime VideoBig comebackBack and forth

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension13/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

6. #6

   Golden KnightsatMammoth

   NHL· TBS/HBO MaxOne-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

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.