Worth the replay?

Tuesday, December 23'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
    StarsatRed Wings
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    BullsatHawks
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  3. #3
    PredatorsatWild
    NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    IdahoatBakersfield
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    BinghamtonatArmy
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  6. #6
    NuggetsatMavericks
    NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  7. #7
    FAUatUCF
    CBBDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  8. #8
    SabresatSenators
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  9. #9
    Western KYatSouthern Miss
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 58

  10. #10
    RangersatCapitals
    NHL· ESPN+Back and forth
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    LindenwoodatMissouri St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  12. #12
    MagicatTrail Blazers
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  13. #13
    DevilsatIslanders
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  14. #14
    PenguinsatMaple Leafs
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVDown to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  15. #15
    WizardsatHornets
    NBA
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

  16. #16
    KrakenatKings
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  17. #17
    Netsat76ers
    NBABig comebackBack and forth
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

  18. #18
    PanthersatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  19. #19
    KnicksatTimberwolves
    NBA
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  20. #20
    ThunderatSpurs
    NBA
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  21. #21
    CanadiensatBruins
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

  22. #22
    GrizzliesatJazz
    NBA
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  23. #23
    RocketsatClippers
    NBA· NBC/Peacock
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  24. #24
    RaptorsatHeat
    NBA
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  25. #25
    FlyersatBlackhawks
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTV
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  26. #26
    UNLVatOhio
    CFB· ESPN
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 22

  27. #27
    VillanovaatSeton Hall
    CBB· PeacockOne-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  28. #28
    LakersatSuns
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  29. #29
    Green BayatCampbell
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

  30. #30
    BucksatPacers
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

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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