Worth the replay?

Tuesday, January 20'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
    Miami OHatKent State
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    UNLVatUtah State
    CBB· FS1Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  3. #3
    Oklahoma StatTCU
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  4. #4
    PurdueatUCLA
    CBB· PeacockDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    TimberwolvesatJazz
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  6. #6
    GeorgiaatMissouri
    CBB· SEC NetworkDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  7. #7
    NC StateatClemson
    CBB· ACC NetworkOvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  8. #8
    Florida StatMiami
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  9. #9
    Seton HallatSt John's
    CBB· FS1Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  10. #10
    MinnesotaatOhio State
    CBB· BTNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  11. #11
    SpursatRockets
    NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  12. #12
    Ball StateatC Michigan
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  13. #13
    UtahatKansas St
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  14. #14
    ToledoatUMass
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  15. #15
    RutgersatIowa
    CBB· BTNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  16. #16
    WildatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  17. #17
    LakersatNuggets
    NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  18. #18
    Saint LouisatDuquesne
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  19. #19
    Mid Atl ChrstnatSC State
    CBB
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  20. #20
    AuburnatOle Miss
    CBB· ESPNU
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  21. #21
    Loyola ChicagoatSt Bonaventure
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  22. #22
    KansasatColorado
    CBB· ESPNDown to the wire
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43

  23. #23
    N IllinoisatOhio
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  24. #24
    Sunsat76ers
    NBABack and forth
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  25. #25
    DevilsatOilers
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTV
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  26. #26
    SabresatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  27. #27
    DePaulatButler
    CBB· truTV
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  28. #28
    OklahomaatSouth Carolina
    CBB· SEC Network
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  29. #29
    BluesatJets
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

  30. #30
    Boise StatWyoming
    CBB
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

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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