Worth the replay?

Tuesday, November 4's games ranked by how good they turned out to be: late drama, comebacks, lead swaps and overtime. No scores, no winners, so you can decide what to watch without spoilers.

Best games of the season →
  1. #1
    OilersatStars
    NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    UT MartinatUNLV
    CBBDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  3. #3
    HornetsatPelicans
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  4. #4
    BruinsatIslanders
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  5. #5
    FlyersatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  6. #6
    Hawai'iatOregon
    CBB· BTNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  7. #7
    76ersatBulls
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  8. #8
    Miami OHatOhio
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 64

  9. #9
    GA SouthernatEast Carolina
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  10. #10
    E IllinoisatValparaiso
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  11. #11
    PredatorsatWild
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  12. #12
    MammothatSabres
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  13. #13
    PanthersatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+Back and forth
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  14. #14
    NJITatFordham
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  15. #15
    UNC AshevilleatWichita St
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  16. #16
    LightningatAvalanche
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTV
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

  17. #17
    JetsatKings
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

  18. #18
    Park U GilbertatIdaho St
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

  19. #19
    ThunderatClippers
    NBA· NBC/Peacock
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  20. #20
    Red WingsatGolden Knights
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  21. #21
    TexasatDuke
    CBB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

  22. #22
    BucksatRaptors
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

  23. #23
    MagicatHawks
    NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  24. #24
    UNC GreensboroatKansas St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

  25. #25
    SunsatWarriors
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

  26. #26
    Portland StatStanford
    CBB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

  27. #27
    HurricanesatRangers
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

  28. #28
    Oral RobertsatOklahoma St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

  29. #29
    Dominican (CA)atSacramento St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

  30. #30
    Mount St MarysatWest Virginia
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings0/25
    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.

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