Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CavaliersatPistons

   NBA· NBCSN/PeacockDown to the wire

   C+

   46/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

2. #2

   WildatAvalanche

   NHL· ESPNOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings6/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

3. #3

   LakersatThunder

   NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided

   D

   6/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings4/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

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.