Worth the replay?

Thursday, January 22'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
    Rocketsat76ers
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    BinghamtonatNew Hampshire
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    MerrimackatIona
    CBB· ESPN+Down 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

  4. #4
    StetsonatLipscomb
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  5. #5
    BullsatTimberwolves
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  6. #6
    E IllinoisatS Indiana
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  7. #7
    BlackhawksatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  8. #8
    Red WingsatWild
    NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  9. #9
    Texas StatCoastal
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    NiagaraatFairfield
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    HofstraatNC A&T
    CBBDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  12. #12
    UAlbanyatMaine
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  13. #13
    SenatorsatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  14. #14
    S Dakota StatSt Thomas
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  15. #15
    Southern MissatGeorgia St
    CBB· ESPN+
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  16. #16
    E KentuckyatNorth Florida
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  17. #17
    BellarmineatJacksonville
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  18. #18
    MonmouthatHampton
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  19. #19
    UC San DiegoatUC Davis
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  20. #20
    Missouri StatNew Mexico St
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  21. #21
    South AlabamaatJames Madison
    CBB· ESPN+
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  22. #22
    N Dakota StatDenver
    CBBDown to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  23. #23
    W IllinoisatMorehead St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  24. #24
    CanisiusatSacred Heart
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  25. #25
    WarriorsatMavericks
    NBA· Prime VideoDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  26. #26
    PanthersatJets
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  27. #27
    FIUatUTEP
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  28. #28
    Tennessee StatSIUE
    CBB· ESPNU/ESPN+
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  29. #29
    Portland StatE Washington
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  30. #30
    North DakotaatOral Roberts
    CBBDown to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

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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