Worth the replay?

Sunday, December 21'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
    RocketsatKings
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    CharlestonatN Kentucky
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  3. #3
    UICatCharlotte
    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
    PatriotsatRavens
    NFL· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    Oregon StatArizona St
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  6. #6
    IdahoatCal Poly
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  7. #7
    Purdue FWatNotre Dame
    CBB· ACCNXDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  8. #8
    CornellatUAlbany
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  9. #9
    SteelersatLions
    NFL· CBSDown to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  10. #10
    Norfolk StatUTEP
    CBBDown 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

  11. #11
    CanadiensatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  12. #12
    CapitalsatRed Wings
    NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  13. #13
    UC IrvineatN Dakota St
    CBB· YouTubeDown to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  14. #14
    BucksatTimberwolves
    NBABig comeback
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  15. #15
    Murray StatValparaiso
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  16. #16
    BuccaneersatPanthers
    NFL· FoxDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  17. #17
    QuinnipiacatHofstra
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  18. #18
    DrakeatEvansville
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  19. #19
    JetsatMammoth
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  20. #20
    Charleston SoatFurman
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  21. #21
    BullsatHawks
    NBADown to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  22. #22
    HeatatKnicks
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  23. #23
    VikingsatGiants
    NFL· FoxDown to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  24. #24
    PresbyterianatManhattan
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  25. #25
    VMIatRadford
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

  26. #26
    RaidersatTexans
    NFL· CBSDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  27. #27
    CincinnatiatClemson
    CBB· ESPNDown to the wire
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  28. #28
    UC DavisatIdaho St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  29. #29
    MilwaukeeatCleveland St
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  30. #30
    RaptorsatNets
    NBABack and forth
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

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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