Worth the replay?

Monday, January 12'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
    Maple LeafsatAvalanche
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    UT Rio GrandeatN'Western St
    CBB· ESPN+Down 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

  3. #3
    MD EasternatNorfolk St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  4. #4
    LSU N OrleansatSE Louisiana
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  5. #5
    SouthernatBethune
    CBBDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  6. #6
    CelticsatPacers
    NBA· PeacockDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  7. #7
    HurricanesatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  8. #8
    NC CentralatMorgan St
    CBBBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  9. #9
    KrakenatRangers
    NHL· NHL NetDown to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  10. #10
    SC StateatCoppin St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  11. #11
    JazzatCavaliers
    NBABig comeback
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  12. #12
    HornetsatClippers
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  13. #13
    PanthersatSabres
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  14. #14
    Hou ChristianatLamar
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  15. #15
    StarsatKings
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  16. #16
    Texas A&M-CCatEast Texas A&M
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  17. #17
    LakersatKings
    NBABig comeback
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  18. #18
    NetsatMavericks
    NBA
    C
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  19. #19
    Jackson StatAlabama A&M
    CBB
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  20. #20
    AR-Pine BluffatPrairie View
    CBB
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  21. #21
    CanucksatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  22. #22
    Incarnate WordatSF Austin
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

  23. #23
    Alcorn StatAlabama St
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

  24. #24
    TexansatSteelers
    NFL· ESPN/ABCOne-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  25. #25
    NavyatAmerican
    CBB· CBSSNOne-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  26. #26
    OilersatBlackhawks
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  27. #27
    DevilsatWild
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  28. #28
    76ersatRaptors
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  29. #29
    LightningatFlyers
    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

  30. #30
    Delaware StatHoward
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings3/25
    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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