Worth the replay?

Thursday, November 5'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
    MammothatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    A+
    90/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.92 (pre-game Watchability 83) = 90

  2. #2
    HofstraatPrinceton
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    84/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.85 (pre-game Watchability 70) = 84

  3. #3
    Jax StateatSouth Alabama
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    StarsatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.87 (pre-game Watchability 75) = 74

  5. #5
    McNeeseatNorth Texas
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.92 (pre-game Watchability 83) = 72

  6. #6
    Fort Valley StatFlorida A&M
    CBBBig comeback
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  7. #7
    PredatorsatAvalanche
    NHL· Disney+/ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.76 (pre-game Watchability 52) = 59

  8. #8
    East Texas A&MatRice
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 22) = 56

  9. #9
    Georgia StatCharlotte
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 32) = 56

  10. #10
    Golden KnightsatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.76 (pre-game Watchability 53) = 55

  11. #11
    BluesatDevils
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40) = 54

  12. #12
    HurricanesatIslanders
    NHL· Disney+/ESPN+/HuluDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.86 (pre-game Watchability 73) = 54

  13. #13
    South FloridaatDePaul
    CBB· truTV
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.89 (pre-game Watchability 77) = 53

  14. #14
    Jackson StatTulane
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.54 (pre-game Watchability 8) = 50

  15. #15
    MaineatSacred Heart
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.51 (pre-game Watchability 3) = 46

  16. #16
    BinghamtonatSaint Peter's
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.51 (pre-game Watchability 1) = 45

  17. #17
    CornellatLehigh
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 60) = 45

  18. #18
    Chicago StatIncarnate Word
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.51 (pre-game Watchability 1) = 43

  19. #19
    FlyersatRangers
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 17) = 40

  20. #20
    UMBCatMarist
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.60 (pre-game Watchability 20) = 40

  21. #21
    Long IslandatSeton Hall
    CBB· truTVBack and forth
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.63 (pre-game Watchability 27) = 39

  22. #22
    UAlbanyatManhattan
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.52 (pre-game Watchability 5) = 38

  23. #23
    New HampshireatRider
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 17) = 37

  24. #24
    DucksatOilers
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.86 (pre-game Watchability 72) = 35

  25. #25
    BuffaloatPitt
    CBB· ACCNX
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.68 (pre-game Watchability 36) = 33

  26. #26
    HeatatWarriors
    NBA· NBA TVBack and forth
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 64) = 30

  27. #27
    VermontatFairfield
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65) = 29

  28. #28
    Delaware StatNavy
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.50 (pre-game Watchability 0) = 23

  29. #29
    TowsonatUtah
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.77 (pre-game Watchability 54) = 22

  30. #30
    UMass LowellatMerrimack
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.53 (pre-game Watchability 5) = 22

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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