Worth the replay?

1. #1

   TimberwolvesatCavaliers

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A+

   98/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.98 (pre-game Watchability 95) = 98

2. #2

   Red WingsatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   68/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.68 (pre-game Watchability 35) = 68

3. #3

   MavericksatHeat

   NBA· NBA TVDown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 38) = 63

4. #4

   WizardsatHornets

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.74 (pre-game Watchability 48) = 53

5. #5

   PacersatBucks

   NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   C+

   52/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 21) = 52

6. #6

   GrizzliesatJazz

   NBADown to the wire

   C

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 28) = 45

7. #7

   WarriorsatNuggets

   NBA· NBCSNBig comebackBack and forth

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.67 (pre-game Watchability 34) = 44

8. #8

   HawksatRockets

   NBA

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late2/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.91 (pre-game Watchability 81) = 29

9. #9

   CowboysatEagles

   NFL· ESPN/ABC/Disney+Back and forth

   D

   26/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension11/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.81 (pre-game Watchability 61) = 26

10. #10

    Maple LeafsatFlames

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension22/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback2/20

    Decided late6/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 27) = 25

11. #11

    KingsatRangers

    NHL· NHL NetOne-sided

    D

    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback2/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.72 (pre-game Watchability 43) = 9

12. #12

    SunsatThunder

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings3/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.77 (pre-game Watchability 54) = 5

13. #13

    BullsatCeltics

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    1/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings2/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 2 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 22) = 1

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.