Worth the replay?

1. #1

   76ersatPacers

   NBA· ESPNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   77/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.83 (pre-game Watchability 66) = 77

2. #2

   SpursatJazz

   NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   65/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 37) = 65

3. #3

   HornetsatPistons

   NBABack and forth

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension29/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.79 (pre-game Watchability 58) = 59

4. #4

   KnicksatBulls

   NBADown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 37) = 58

5. #5

   Maple LeafsatKraken

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth

   B

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 43) = 55

6. #6

   HeatatHawks

   NBA

   C+

   52/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension29/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.83 (pre-game Watchability 66) = 52

7. #7

   WizardsatCavaliers

   NBADown to the wire

   C+

   51/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 33) = 51

8. #8

   WarriorsatTimberwolves

   NBA

   C

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension14/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.84 (pre-game Watchability 68) = 45

9. #9

   NuggetsatPelicans

   NBA

   D

   32/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension28/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 39) = 32

10. #10

    ThunderatMavericks

    NBA· ESPN

    D

    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension2/30

    Swings16/25

    Comeback12/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.83 (pre-game Watchability 66) = 25

11. #11

    MagicatRaptors

    NBA

    D

    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings16/25

    Comeback12/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65) = 25

12. #12

    DevilsatAvalanche

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings14/25

    Comeback4/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.96 (pre-game Watchability 93) = 24

13. #13

    LakersatClippers

    NBA

    D

    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings15/25

    Comeback8/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.84 (pre-game Watchability 68) = 24

14. #14

    Kennesaw StatMTSU

    CFB· CBSSN

    D

    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension2/30

    Swings14/25

    Comeback8/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 28) = 20

15. #15

    FlyersatCapitals

    NHL· TNT/truTV

    D

    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension16/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.60 (pre-game Watchability 20) = 17

16. #16

    RocketsatBucks

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.67 (pre-game Watchability 33) = 8

17. #17

    Jax StateatNew Mexico St

    CFB· ESPN2One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback1/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 32) = 7

18. #18

    FlamesatOilers

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 32) = 4

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.