Worth the replay?

Wednesday, November 4'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
    QueensatLMU
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    77/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.78 (pre-game Watchability 56) = 77

  2. #2
    TimberwolvesatRockets
    NBADown to the wire
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 89) = 67

  3. #3
    HeatatClippers
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 33) = 66

  4. #4
    PacersatGrizzlies
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 39) = 61

  5. #5
    SenatorsatSabres
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65) = 57

  6. #6
    JazzatPelicans
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.56 (pre-game Watchability 12) = 56

  7. #7
    Ball StateatUMass
    CFB· ESPNUOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.55 (pre-game Watchability 11) = 52

  8. #8
    RaptorsatNuggets
    NBABack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.88 (pre-game Watchability 77) = 52

  9. #9
    MavericksatSpurs
    NBA· ESPNDown to the wire
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 43) = 49

  10. #10
    HornetsatNets
    NBABig comebackBack and forth
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.58 (pre-game Watchability 16) = 43

  11. #11
    76ersatPistons
    NBA· ESPN
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.98 (pre-game Watchability 95) = 39

  12. #12
    FlamesatKraken
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.52 (pre-game Watchability 5) = 39

  13. #13
    BucksatCeltics
    NBADown to the wire
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.57 (pre-game Watchability 14) = 34

  14. #14
    LongwoodatSaint Joseph's
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 39) = 30

  15. #15
    CSU NorthridgeatWichita St
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 37) = 29

  16. #16
    Trail BlazersatSuns
    NBA
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65) = 23

  17. #17
    HawksatWizards
    NBA
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.78 (pre-game Watchability 56) = 23

  18. #18
    N KentuckyatSouth Dakota
    CBB
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 51) = 22

  19. #19
    CavaliersatThunder
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90) = 15

  20. #20
    LakersatKings
    NBABack and forthOne-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.53 (pre-game Watchability 7) = 13

  21. #21
    BlackhawksatPanthers
    NHL· TNT/truTVOne-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.60 (pre-game Watchability 19) = 13

  22. #22
    ToledoatSacramento St
    CFB· CBSSNOne-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.50 (pre-game Watchability 0) = 9

  23. #23
    RadfordatCalifornia
    CBB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 17) = 8

  24. #24
    RandolphatNorfolk St
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  25. #25
    WebsteratSE Missouri
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forthOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  26. #26
    Concordia ChiatSIUE
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forthOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  27. #27
    SharksatKings
    NHL· TNT/truTVOne-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.63 (pre-game Watchability 26) = 5

  28. #28
    C MichiganatE Michigan
    CFB· ESPN2One-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 0.65 (pre-game Watchability 29) = 4

  29. #29
    SE LouisianaatAuburn
    CBB· SECN+One-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 23) = 3

  30. #30
    Champ ChrstnatUL Monroe
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

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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