Worth the replay?

Friday, January 23'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
    CelticsatNets
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    WagneratLe Moyne
    CBBDown 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

  3. #3
    Utah StateatColorado St
    CBB· FS1Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ 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) = 72

  4. #4
    Kennesaw StatLouisiana Tech
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    Charleston SoatLongwood
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  6. #6
    Long IslandatStonehill
    CBBDown 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

  7. #7
    PelicansatGrizzlies
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  8. #8
    SC UpstateatGardner-Webb
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  9. #9
    East CarolinaatNorth Texas
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  10. #10
    UMassatBuffalo
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  11. #11
    MercyhurstatNew Haven
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  12. #12
    SunsatHawks
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  13. #13
    PacersatThunder
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  14. #14
    NuggetsatBucks
    NBA· Prime VideoBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  15. #15
    KingsatCavaliers
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  16. #16
    BluesatStars
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  17. #17
    Ohio StateatMichigan
    CBB· FoxDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  18. #18
    LightningatBlackhawks
    NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  19. #19
    MTSUatJax State
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

  20. #20
    RocketsatPistons
    NBA· Prime Video
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  21. #21
    MarquetteatButler
    CBB· FS1
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    High PointatRadford
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  23. #23
    StetsonatAustin Peay
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

  24. #24
    RaptorsatTrail Blazers
    NBA
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

  25. #25
    FDUatC Connecticut
    CBBBig comeback
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

  26. #26
    FlyersatAvalanche
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  27. #27
    FGCUatLipscomb
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

  28. #28
    CapitalsatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  29. #29
    Golden KnightsatMaple Leafs
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  30. #30
    DucksatKraken
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

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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