Worth the replay?

Friday, December 5'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
    Notre DameatTCU
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    NuggetsatHawks
    NBABig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  3. #3
    CapitalsatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  4. #4
    Trail BlazersatPistons
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  5. #5
    MercyhurstatLafayette
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  6. #6
    South AlabamaatETSU
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  7. #7
    Mount St MarysatMarist
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  8. #8
    HeatatMagic
    NBADown to the wire
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  9. #9
    Kennesaw StatJax State
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 63

  10. #10
    UABatDrake
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    CincinnatiatXavier
    CBB· TNTDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  12. #12
    ClippersatGrizzlies
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  13. #13
    PacersatBulls
    NBA
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

  14. #14
    North TexasatTulane
    CFB· ABC
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90, estimated) = 30

  15. #15
    TroyatJames Madison
    CFB· ESPN
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 30

  16. #16
    SpursatCavaliers
    NBA
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

  17. #17
    FairfieldatManhattan
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

  18. #18
    QuinnipiacatIona
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

  19. #19
    HornetsatRaptors
    NBABig comeback
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

  20. #20
    SharksatStars
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

  21. #21
    MammothatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  22. #22
    Golden KnightsatDevils
    NHL· NHL Net
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  23. #23
    SunsatRockets
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

  24. #24
    CanisiusatSaint Peter's
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

  25. #25
    76ersatBucks
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  26. #26
    SabresatJets
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  27. #27
    SamfordatVCU
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  28. #28
    Lewis & ClarkatPortland
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

  29. #29
    BryantatBrown
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

  30. #30
    San DiegoatSan José St
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    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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