Worth the replay?

Monday, December 29'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
    BelmontatIndiana St
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  2. #2
    Stony BrookatHampton
    CBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ 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) = 73

  3. #3
    N KentuckyatRobert Morris
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  4. #4
    Saint Peter'satFairfield
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  5. #5
    NichollsatTexas A&M-CC
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  6. #6
    ManhattanatRider
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  7. #7
    MagicatRaptors
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  8. #8
    Tarleton StatUT Arlington
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  9. #9
    KnicksatPelicans
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    MavericksatTrail Blazers
    NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  11. #11
    CapitalsatPanthers
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  12. #12
    RangersatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  13. #13
    CanucksatKraken
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  14. #14
    RamsatFalcons
    NFL· ESPNDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  15. #15
    MaristatQuinnipiac
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  16. #16
    BruinsatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  17. #17
    PredatorsatMammoth
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  18. #18
    EvansvilleatBradley
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  19. #19
    UNC WilmingtonatNC A&T
    CBB· CBSSN
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  20. #20
    HawksatThunder
    NBABack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  21. #21
    CA BaptistatUtah Valley
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  22. #22
    S IllinoisatMurray St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  23. #23
    UtahatWashington
    CBB· FS1Back and forth
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  24. #24
    LSU N OrleansatUT Rio Grande
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

  25. #25
    WarriorsatNets
    NBA
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  26. #26
    BucksatHornets
    NBABack and forth
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  27. #27
    SharksatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  28. #28
    CavaliersatSpurs
    NBA· NBC/PeacockBig comeback
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

  29. #29
    SabresatBlues
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  30. #30
    ValparaisoatNorthern Iowa
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

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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