Year in review: The best games you didn't see in 2021

The Colorado State Rams were down but not out, trailing 36-10 to the Aztecs with 8:15 left in the first half. The team had the biggest comeback in school history to win 70-67. Guard David Roddy starred, with 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Rams.

Lillard has one of the best games of his career, culminating with a three-point buzzer-beater to defeat the Bulls 123-122. He scored 44 points and had nine assists, as the Blazers held off Chicago after taking an 11-point lead into halftime.

Detroit's shocking loss in February was emblematic of their terrible 2020-21 season. They led Chicago 59-34 with 2:37 left in the second quarter before the offense went out. The Pistons scored only 12 points in the third quarter and lost 105-102, as Zach LaVine took over the game with 37 points.

The underdog Milwaukee Panthers trailed Wright State 72-48 with 6:15 left in the second half of the Horizon League Quarterfinal but were able to make a huge late rally to send the game to overtime. The Panthers capped off the comeback in overtime, winning 94-92. DeAndre Gholston had a spectacular game with 31 points and nine rebounds for Milwaukee.

The Reds bats were active with six home runs, including two from Jesse Winker, but it wasn't enough to beat Arizona. David Peralta had one of the best games of his career, going 5-for-6 with seven RBI, and the Diamondbacks produced six runs in the 10th inning to win 14-11.

DeGrom was on pace to have one of the greatest seasons by a pitcher even until arm injuries struck in the second half of the season. He was spectacular when he pitched, and his outing in late April was probably his best. He threw a complete-game two-hitter against the Nats, fanning 15 batters as the Mets won 6-0.

The story of Vanderbilt's 2021 baseball season was their incredible pitching talent, but it was their hitting that propelled them in their win against Arizona. Top MLB prospect Kumar Rocker allowed three runs for Vandy in the first inning before getting on track, but Arizona was able to tie the game 6-6 in the ninth inning. Commodores third baseman Jayson Gonzalez was able to connect on a walk-off single in the 12th inning to win 7-6, capping off a three-RBI day.

The game wasn't the best in total, but Means' incredible no-hitter made it a memorable one. The lefty had arguably the best pitching performance of the 2021 season and was only a wild pitch away from a perfect game. He finished the outing with 12 strikeouts in a 6-0 win.

Sometimes a three-home run performance just isn't enough. White Sox backup catcher Seby Zavala launched three bombs in an offensive slugfest, but Chicago's bullpen let the team down. Cleveland was able to score 12 runs, including a five-spot in the sixth inning to win 12-11.

Long MLB games have been few and far between since MLB enacted the running on second base in extra innings beginning in 2020. The epic game between LA and San Diego in late August was a rare exception, as the teams played a 16-inning affair that had it all. The game was a pitcher's duel tied 1-1- until the 15th inning. The Dodgers scored two runs in the 15th, but Fernando Tatis Jr. tied the game with a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning. However, A.J. Pollock was able to come back with a two-run homer to eventually win 5-3.

Mississippi State opened their season with a bang. Trailing 34-14 to Louisiana Tech in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs scored three unanswered touchdowns to win 35-14, capped off with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Will Rogers to Jaden Walley.

Lindor had a disappointing first season in New York, but he came on late for the Mets. His three-home run performance against the Yankees was especially memorable, including the game-winner in the eighth inning off of Chad Green to win 7-6.

UTSA trailed Memphis 21-0 in the first quarter but were able to ride running back Sincere McCormick to victor 31-28. McCormick rushed 41 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns.

Arguably the most unbelievable result of the 2021 NFL season so far, the Jets were able to top the Titans in overtime after a fourth-quarter that had plenty of scoring. Much maligned rookie quarterback Zach Wilson threw two touchdowns late, including a 53-yarder to Corey Davis, and Matt Ammendola kicked the game-winning 22-yard field goal to win 27-24 in overtime.

For fans of NHL goal-scoring, the overtime game between Tampa Bay and Detroit was a lot of fun. Tyler Bertuzzi scored four games for Detroit, but the Lightning made a late comeback with three unanswered goals in the third period followed by a game-winner from Ondrej Palat.

Maybe it wasn't a great game, but it was certainly memorable. The new college football overtime rules could be ill-fated after the nine overtime debacle between the Illini and Nittany Lions. The teams were tied 10-10 after regulation before going back and forth with failed two-point conversions in overtime. Finally, Illinois was successful on a two-point pass from Brandon Peters to Casey Washington in the ninth OT to win 20-18.

Entering the game as 31-point underdogs, the Jayhawks were able to end a streak of Big 12 futility by upsetting Texas behind the heroics of young quarterback Jalon Daniels. He threw three touchdown passes, along with the deciding two-point pass to Jared Casey in overtime to beat the Longhorns 57-56.

Dayton trailed Kansas 45-35 at halftime early in the 2021-22 season but was able to mount a comeback late in the game. The Flyers got double-digit points from five different players and won 74-73 on a jumper from Mustapha Amzil at the buzzer

The frustrating early season for the Lakers continued with a triple-overtime loss to Sacramento. LeBron James scored 30 points and has 11 assists, while Russell Westbrook had a triple-double. That was still not enough to win, as the Kings got 34 points from De'Aaron Fox.

One of the highest-scoring games of the 2021-22 NBA season so far was one of Houston's few wins. The Rockets took down Charlotte 146-143 in overtime after squandering an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter. Christian Wood starred for Houston with 33 points and 16 rebounds.