Worth the replay?

1. #1

   RaptorsatCavaliers

   NBA· ESPNBack and forth

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

2. #2

   RocketsatLakers

   NBA· ESPN

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

3. #3

   MagicatPistons

   NBA· Prime Video

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

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.