Worth the replay?

Thursday, December 18'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
    RamsatSeahawks
    NFL· Prime VideoOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    PistonsatMavericks
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    KingsatTrail Blazers
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    SIUEatE Illinois
    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

  5. #5
    BradleyatIndiana St
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  6. #6
    WinthropatNorth Dakota
    CBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  7. #7
    KnicksatPacers
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  8. #8
    RocketsatPelicans
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  9. #9
    WarriorsatSuns
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    UT MartinatTennessee St
    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

  11. #11
    PepperdineatLong Beach St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  12. #12
    HamptonatJackson St
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  13. #13
    FurmanatManhattan
    CBB· ESPN+
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  14. #14
    RangersatBlues
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  15. #15
    TempleatDavidson
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  16. #16
    Southern UtahatN Arizona
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  17. #17
    HawksatHornets
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  18. #18
    WildatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  19. #19
    KrakenatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  20. #20
    LakersatJazz
    NBA
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  21. #21
    HeatatNets
    NBA
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  22. #22
    LouisianaatSouthern Miss
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  23. #23
    RaptorsatBucks
    NBA
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  24. #24
    RadfordatWilliam & Mary
    CBB
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  25. #25
    Illinois StatS Illinois
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  26. #26
    KingsatLightning
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

  27. #27
    MagicatNuggets
    NBABig comeback
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  28. #28
    FlyersatSabres
    NHL· ESPN+/Hulu
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  29. #29
    Little RockatS Indiana
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

  30. #30
    SE MissouriatTennessee Tech
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

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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