Worth the replay?

Tuesday, December 16'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
    NC A&TatUNC Greensboro
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  2. #2
    Oral RobertsatMissouri St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  3. #3
    SpursatKnicks
    NBA· Prime VideoBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  4. #4
    Sacred HeartatUMass Lowell
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  5. #5
    UC San DiegoatLMU
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  6. #6
    Long IslandatMississippi St
    CBB· SECN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  7. #7
    DucksatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  8. #8
    Montana StatCal Poly
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  9. #9
    IslandersatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  10. #10
    TroyatJax State
    CFB· ESPN
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 55

  11. #11
    HowardatDrexel
    CBB
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  12. #12
    SouthernatCA Baptist
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  13. #13
    BlackhawksatMaple Leafs
    NHL· ESPN+
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  14. #14
    RideratDelaware
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ 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) = 50

  15. #15
    SC UpstateatSC State
    CBBDown to the wire
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  16. #16
    BelmontatEvansville
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  17. #17
    AvalancheatKraken
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVBack and forth
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  18. #18
    N ColoradoatTexas Tech
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  19. #19
    FlamesatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

  20. #20
    FlyersatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

  21. #21
    MammothatBruins
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  22. #22
    DartmouthatHoly Cross
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  23. #23
    Miami OHatWright St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

  24. #24
    LouisvilleatTennessee
    CBB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

  25. #25
    UT Rio GrandeatLamar
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

  26. #26
    CanisiusatRhode Island
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

  27. #27
    South CarolinaatClemson
    CBB· ESPN2One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

  28. #28
    MaristatGeorgia Tech
    CBB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

  29. #29
    Little RockatMorehead St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

  30. #30
    CanucksatRangers
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

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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