Worth the replay?

Friday, December 19'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
    HurricanesatPanthers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    TulsaatWestern KY
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ 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) = 74

  3. #3
    ThunderatTimberwolves
    NBA· Prime VideoDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  4. #4
    BullsatCavaliers
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    San DiegoatUC San Diego
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  6. #6
    Seton HallatProvidence
    CBB· FS1Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  7. #7
    WashingtonatSeattle U
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  8. #8
    S Dakota StatMilwaukee
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  9. #9
    76ersatKnicks
    NBA· Prime VideoBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    WisconsinatVillanova
    CBB· FoxOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  11. #11
    AlabamaatOklahoma
    CFB· ABC/ESPNBig comeback
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 54

  12. #12
    DevilsatMammoth
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  13. #13
    HeatatCeltics
    NBABack and forth
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  14. #14
    GramblingatHampton
    CBB· ESPNU
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  15. #15
    BelmontatUC Irvine
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  16. #16
    Mount St MarysatDrexel
    CBB
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  17. #17
    DartmouthatSacred Heart
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  18. #18
    JetsatAvalanche
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  19. #19
    Florida A&MatTarleton St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

  20. #20
    Brewton ParkeratSC State
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings2/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

  21. #21
    SpursatHawks
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    Cal PolyatUCLA
    CBB· BTNBack and forthOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

  23. #23
    CanucksatIslanders
    NHL· NHL NetOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  24. #24
    Abilene ChrstnatBYU
    CBB· TNT/truTVOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  25. #25
    StarsatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

  26. #26
    MemphisatNC State
    CFB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 6

  27. #27
    Norfolk StatJackson St
    CBB· ESPNUOne-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  28. #28
    Kennesaw StatW Michigan
    CFB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 4

  29. #29
    FAUatSaint Mary's
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    4/100
    ▸ 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) = 4

  30. #30
    La SalleatHigh Point
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

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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