Worth the replay?

Wednesday, November 11'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
    CelticsatRaptors
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    A+
    86/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.91 (pre-game Watchability 82) = 86

  2. #2
    Santa ClaraatNorth Texas
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    A+
    86/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 88) = 86

  3. #3
    CavaliersatKnicks
    NBA· ESPNDown to the wire
    A
    76/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.93 (pre-game Watchability 86) = 76

  4. #4
    ThunderatTrail Blazers
    NBADown to the wire
    A
    76/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 94) = 76

  5. #5
    South FloridaatSaint Joseph's
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.86 (pre-game Watchability 73) = 75

  6. #6
    AmericanatDrexel
    CBBDown to the wire
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65) = 71

  7. #7
    PacificatLong Beach St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.77 (pre-game Watchability 54) = 62

  8. #8
    PepperdineatSam Houston
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.84 (pre-game Watchability 68) = 62

  9. #9
    PennatNavy
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 32) = 61

  10. #10
    James MadisonatDelaware
    CBB· ESPN+
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.81 (pre-game Watchability 62) = 59

  11. #11
    FlyersatOilers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.77 (pre-game Watchability 53) = 58

  12. #12
    William & MaryatFAU
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.77 (pre-game Watchability 54) = 57

  13. #13
    Jackson StatSouthern Miss
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.55 (pre-game Watchability 11) = 55

  14. #14
    UMass LowellatUMass
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 29) = 55

  15. #15
    FDUatEast Texas A&M
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.53 (pre-game Watchability 6) = 53

  16. #16
    NevadaatSanta Barbara
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90) = 53

  17. #17
    CharlestonatTemple
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.91 (pre-game Watchability 83) = 52

  18. #18
    SF AustinatAbilene Chrstn
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.77 (pre-game Watchability 54) = 49

  19. #19
    NuggetsatGrizzlies
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 60) = 48

  20. #20
    USCatCalifornia
    CBB· ESPN2
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.88 (pre-game Watchability 77) = 46

  21. #21
    UNC AshevilleatWest Georgia
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 21) = 44

  22. #22
    PenguinsatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.55 (pre-game Watchability 11) = 43

  23. #23
    MagicatJazz
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.65 (pre-game Watchability 29) = 42

  24. #24
    PredatorsatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 60) = 40

  25. #25
    S IndianaatIU Indy
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.51 (pre-game Watchability 2) = 39

  26. #26
    Lees McRaeatUNC Greensboro
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  27. #27
    MarquetteatMichigan
    CBB· FS1
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 94) = 37

  28. #28
    WarriorsatRockets
    NBA· ESPN
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.88 (pre-game Watchability 76) = 34

  29. #29
    Loyola ChicagoatAir Force
    CBB· MW+
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 27) = 31

  30. #30
    Stony BrookatPrinceton
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.73 (pre-game Watchability 46) = 30

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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