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

   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

3. #3

   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

4. #4

   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.