Worth the replay?

Thursday, November 20'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
    76ersatBucks
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  2. #2
    ColgateatCornell
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  3. #3
    TroyatUSC
    CBB· BTNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  4. #4
    KeanatDelaware St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  5. #5
    Arizona StatHawai'i
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  6. #6
    BillsatTexans
    NFL· Prime VideoDown to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  7. #7
    BluesatFlyers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  8. #8
    Wake ForestatTexas Tech
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  9. #9
    LouisianaatArkansas St
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 62

  10. #10
    Cal PolyatUtah
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  11. #11
    KrakenatBlackhawks
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  12. #12
    SenatorsatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  13. #13
    KingsatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  14. #14
    MemphisatPurdue
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

  15. #15
    Blue JacketsatMaple Leafs
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

  16. #16
    OilersatLightning
    NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wire
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  17. #17
    MercyhurstatMiami OH
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  18. #18
    Saint Joseph'satUNLV
    CBBBack and forth
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

  19. #19
    RangersatAvalanche
    NHL· ESPN+Back and forth
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  20. #20
    HawksatSpurs
    NBA· NBA TVBack and forth
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

  21. #21
    N KentuckyatC Michigan
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  22. #22
    Tarleton StatRice
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  23. #23
    PittatUCF
    CBB· ESPN2
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  24. #24
    CapitalsatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

  25. #25
    StarsatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

  26. #26
    Mississippi StatKansas St
    CBB· Peacock
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  27. #27
    Robert MorrisatSt Bonaventure
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  28. #28
    DevilsatPanthers
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  29. #29
    NortheasternatPrinceton
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

  30. #30
    AR-Pine BluffatMarshall
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

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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