Worth the replay?

1. #1

   StarsatAvalanche

   NHL· TNT/truTVOvertimeDown to the wire

   A

   85/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 89) = 85

2. #2

   Kennesaw StatMissouri St

   CFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   61/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.76 (pre-game Watchability 52) = 61

3. #3

   CanadiensatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.86 (pre-game Watchability 71) = 60

4. #4

   NetsatHeat

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   51/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

5. #5

   NuggetsatClippers

   NBA· NBA TVBig comeback

   C

   36/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension10/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

6. #6

   PelicansatMavericks

   NBA· NBA TV

   D

   32/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

7. #7

   SunsatSpurs

   NBA

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

8. #8

   PistonsatTimberwolves

   NBA

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

9. #9

   HornetsatCeltics

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

10. #10

    BullsatBucks

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings13/25

    Comeback2/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

11. #11

    Western KYatSam Houston

    CFB· ESPNOne-sided

    D

    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension8/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback2/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.62 (pre-game Watchability 24) = 11

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.