Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CavaliersatRaptors

   NBA· ESPNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

2. #2

   OilersatDucks

   NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

3. #3

   LightningatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPNDown to the wire

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

4. #4

   SpursatTrail Blazers

   NBA· ESPNBig comeback

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension25/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

5. #5

   LakersatRockets

   NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

6. #6

   SabresatBruins

   NHL· TNT/truTV/HBO MaxOne-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

7. #7

   AvalancheatKings

   NHL· TNT/truTV/HBO MaxOne-sided

   D

   5/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

8. #8

   Celticsat76ers

   NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided

   D

   4/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings5/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4

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.