Worth the replay?

Thursday, December 11'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
    BloomfieldatWagner
    CBBOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    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
    UT ArlingtonatUT Rio Grande
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  3. #3
    FalconsatBuccaneers
    NFL· Prime VideoDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  4. #4
    HurricanesatCapitals
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  5. #5
    SharksatMaple Leafs
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  6. #6
    Green BayatIU Indy
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  7. #7
    ClippersatRockets
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  8. #8
    IowaatIowa State
    CBB· FS1Down to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  9. #9
    Golden KnightsatFlyers
    NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  10. #10
    BruinsatJets
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  11. #11
    App StateatEast Carolina
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  12. #12
    StarsatWild
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43

  13. #13
    SabresatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

  14. #14
    Saint Joseph'satSyracuse
    CBB· ACC Network
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  15. #15
    N Dakota StatBakersfield
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

  16. #16
    CelticsatBucks
    NBABig comeback
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  17. #17
    Trail BlazersatPelicans
    NBA
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26

  18. #18
    St Johns (MN)atSt Thomas
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  19. #19
    SenatorsatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  20. #20
    DucksatIslanders
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  21. #21
    CanadiensatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  22. #22
    NuggetsatKings
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

  23. #23
    Red WingsatOilers
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  24. #24
    PanthersatAvalanche
    NHL· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ 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) = 7

  25. #25
    LightningatDevils
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

  26. #26
    BluesatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

  27. #27
    Alabama StatMissouri
    CBB· SECN+One-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

  28. #28
    Coastal GAatGA Southern
    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

  29. #29
    W CarolinaatVirginia Tech
    CBB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    1/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 1 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 1

  30. #30
    Trinity Co JaxatJacksonville
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0

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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