Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CavaliersatRaptors

   NBA· Prime VideoOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

2. #2

   PistonsatMagic

   NBA· Prime VideoBig comeback

   B+

   68/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

3. #3

   LakersatRockets

   NBA· Prime Video

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

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.