Worth the replay?

Sunday, December 14'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
    HornetsatCavaliers
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    MammothatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    High PointatApp State
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    TroyatUAB
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

  5. #5
    LakersatSuns
    NBADown 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

  6. #6
    BuffaloatEast Carolina
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  7. #7
    WarriorsatTrail Blazers
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  8. #8
    Kent StateatPortland
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  9. #9
    BillsatPatriots
    NFL· CBSDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  10. #10
    ColtsatSeahawks
    NFL· CBSDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    North TexasatSouth Alabama
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  12. #12
    Indiana StatMilwaukee
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  13. #13
    CharlotteatCharleston
    CBBDown to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  14. #14
    PanthersatSaints
    NFL· FoxDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  15. #15
    Ball StateatCampbell
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  16. #16
    MonmouthatFairfield
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  17. #17
    PelicansatBulls
    NBABack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  18. #18
    ChargersatChiefs
    NFL· CBSDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  19. #19
    FlyersatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  20. #20
    Saint Mary'satBoise St
    CBB
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  21. #21
    Detroit MercyatPurdue FW
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  22. #22
    PackersatBroncos
    NFL· CBSBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  23. #23
    VikingsatCowboys
    NFL· NBC/PeacockBack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

  24. #24
    76ersatHawks
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

  25. #25
    Washington StatUSC
    CBB· FS1
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  26. #26
    MerrimackatVermont
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  27. #27
    LionsatRams
    NFL· FoxBack and forth
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  28. #28
    KingsatTimberwolves
    NBA
    C
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  29. #29
    Chicago StatLoyola Chicago
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  30. #30
    CanucksatDevils
    NHL· NHL Net
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

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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