Worth the replay?

Monday, December 22'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
    Abilene ChrstnatTexas Southern
    CBB· YouTubeBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  2. #2
    SIUEatW Illinois
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  3. #3
    N Dakota StatUTEP
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  4. #4
    CoastalatSaint Joseph's
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  5. #5
    PacersatCeltics
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  6. #6
    MavericksatPelicans
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  7. #7
    Seattle UatUTSA
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  8. #8
    Northern IowaatSaint Mary's
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  9. #9
    Sacramento StatCSU Northridge
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    PistonsatTrail Blazers
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  11. #11
    FDUatBoston College
    CBB· ACCNX
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  12. #12
    E MichiganatWright St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  13. #13
    PrincetonatTemple
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

  14. #14
    HornetsatCavaliers
    NBA· Peacock
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  15. #15
    DenveratTulsa
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

  16. #16
    NortheasternatRhode Island
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43

  17. #17
    KrakenatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  18. #18
    Blue JacketsatKings
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  19. #19
    Prairie ViewatLSU
    CBB· SEC NetworkBack and forth
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

  20. #20
    MagicatWarriors
    NBABack and forth
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

  21. #21
    GrizzliesatThunder
    NBA· Peacock
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26

  22. #22
    UT ArlingtonatOral Roberts
    CBB
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  23. #23
    49ersatColts
    NFL· ESPN/ABCOne-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  24. #24
    New HavenatFordham
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forthOne-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  25. #25
    Sacred HeartatTowson
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

  26. #26
    UC IrvineatNorfolk St
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

  27. #27
    CanucksatFlyers
    NHL· NHL NetOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  28. #28
    IU IndyatGrand Canyon
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

  29. #29
    Washington StatUtah State
    CFB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 5

  30. #30
    PortlandatSanta Barbara
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

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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