Worth the replay?

Monday, January 5'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
    Nuggetsat76ers
    NBA· PeacockOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    OregonatRutgers
    CBB· PeacockOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    ColumbiaatCornell
    CBB· ESPN+Big comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  4. #4
    SunsatRockets
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  5. #5
    PennatPrinceton
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  6. #6
    SF AustinatMcNeese
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  7. #7
    MammothatRangers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  8. #8
    Prairie ViewatSouthern
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  9. #9
    MilwaukeeatGreen Bay
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  10. #10
    N'Western StatNicholls
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  11. #11
    NebraskaatOhio State
    CBB· FS1Down to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  12. #12
    DartmouthatHarvard
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  13. #13
    William & MaryatCharleston
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  14. #14
    WarriorsatClippers
    NBA· PeacockDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  15. #15
    East Texas A&MatLSU N Orleans
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  16. #16
    Red WingsatSenators
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  17. #17
    DucksatCapitals
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  18. #18
    Incarnate WordatUT Rio Grande
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

  19. #19
    HornetsatThunder
    NBABig comeback
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

  20. #20
    Alabama StatAR-Pine Bluff
    CBB
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

  21. #21
    KrakenatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    YaleatBrown
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  23. #23
    LamaratSE Louisiana
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  24. #24
    WildatKings
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  25. #25
    HawksatRaptors
    NBA
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

  26. #26
    KnicksatPistons
    NBA· PeacockOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  27. #27
    Texas A&M-CCatHou Christian
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

  28. #28
    USCatMichigan St
    CBB· FS1One-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  29. #29
    Texas SouthernatGrambling
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

  30. #30
    Alabama A&MatMiss Valley St
    CBBOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

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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