Worth the replay?

Wednesday, December 10'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
    KingsatKraken
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

  2. #2
    Miami OHatUNC Asheville
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

  3. #3
    New MexicoatVCU
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  4. #4
    Fresno StatCSU Northridge
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  5. #5
    UMassatBoston College
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  6. #6
    MerrimackatPrinceton
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  7. #7
    SouthernatTexas St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  8. #8
    PanthersatMammoth
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  9. #9
    Idaho StatUtah Valley
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    ColgateatSt Bonaventure
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  11. #11
    CharlestonatSouth Florida
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  12. #12
    Weber StatKansas City
    CBBDown to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

  13. #13
    BryantatIona
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  14. #14
    DelawareatG Washington
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  15. #15
    MaineatBoston U
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  16. #16
    E KentuckyatE Illinois
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  17. #17
    New HavenatNJIT
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  18. #18
    SpursatLakers
    NBA· Prime Video
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29

  19. #19
    Western KYatMarshall
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

  20. #20
    E MichiganatPurdue FW
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  21. #21
    IdahoatNotre Dame
    CBB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    WisconsinatNebraska
    CBB· BTNOne-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  23. #23
    Red WingsatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  24. #24
    UAlbanyatYale
    CBB· ESPNUOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  25. #25
    RangersatBlackhawks
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

  26. #26
    FDUatFordham
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  27. #27
    UT MartinatS Illinois
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  28. #28
    LamaratSan Diego St
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ 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) = 5

  29. #29
    LibertyatNC State
    CBB· ACC NetworkOne-sided
    D
    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  30. #30
    TougalooatTulane
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    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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