Worth the replay?

Tuesday, December 9'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
    DucksatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    Long Beach StatSan José St
    CBBOvertimeDown 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
    Golden KnightsatIslanders
    NHL· TNT/HBO MaxOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  4. #4
    BuffaloatUMBC
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    AvalancheatPredators
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  6. #6
    ClemsonatBYU
    CBB· ESPNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  7. #7
    SabresatOilers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  8. #8
    ColumbiaatStony Brook
    CBBOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  9. #9
    McNeeseatRhode Island
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    FloridaatUConn
    CBB· ESPN
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  11. #11
    S Dakota StatBall State
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  12. #12
    DevilsatSenators
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  13. #13
    IllinoisatOhio State
    CBB· Peacock
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  14. #14
    USCatSan Diego
    CBB· ESPN2Back and forth
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  15. #15
    NC A&TatHoward
    CBBDown to the wire
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

  16. #16
    BruinsatBlues
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  17. #17
    BucknellatRider
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  18. #18
    HeatatMagic
    NBA· Prime Video
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

  19. #19
    BrownatProvidence
    CBB· truTV
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  20. #20
    Blue JacketsatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+/Hulu
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  21. #21
    StarsatJets
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

  22. #22
    Loyola MDatVMI
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

  23. #23
    KnicksatRaptors
    NBA· Prime VideoOne-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

  24. #24
    SharksatFlyers
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

  25. #25
    Ark BaptistatUL Monroe
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  26. #26
    LightningatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

  27. #27
    Dominican (CA)atCalifornia
    CBB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

  28. #28
    N ArizonaatArizona St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4

  29. #29
    Regis CollegeatHoly Cross
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 4 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3

  30. #30
    DoaneatOmaha
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

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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