Worth the replay?

Sunday, February 1'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
    BruinsatLightning
    NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    East CarolinaatFAU
    CBB· ESPN+Down 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
    TulaneatMemphis
    CBB· ESPN2Down 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

  4. #4
    Saint Peter'satRider
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  5. #5
    QuinnipiacatFairfield
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  6. #6
    Cleveland StatMilwaukee
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  7. #7
    KingsatWizards
    NBADown to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  8. #8
    KingsatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  9. #9
    MinnesotaatPenn State
    CBB· PeacockDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  10. #10
    JazzatRaptors
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    ManhattanatMount St Marys
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

  12. #12
    CoastalatUL Monroe
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  13. #13
    IllinoisatNebraska
    CBB· FS1
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  14. #14
    ETSUatWofford
    CBB· CBSSN
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  15. #15
    Rhode IslandatDuquesne
    CBB· USA Net
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  16. #16
    LakersatKnicks
    NBA· NBC/Peacock
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  17. #17
    Wright StatGreen Bay
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29

  18. #18
    N KentuckyatOakland
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  19. #19
    MaristatNiagara
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  20. #20
    Golden KnightsatDucks
    NHL· ESPN
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  21. #21
    ClippersatSuns
    NBA
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    MagicatSpurs
    NBA
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

  23. #23
    SamfordatW Carolina
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

  24. #24
    ChattanoogaatFurman
    CBB· ESPN2One-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  25. #25
    Wichita StatTulsa
    CBB· ESPNUOne-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

  26. #26
    TCUatColorado
    CBB· TNT/truTVOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

  27. #27
    Sacred HeartatMerrimack
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

  28. #28
    AlabamaatFlorida
    CBB· ABCOne-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

  29. #29
    BucksatCeltics
    NBA· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

  30. #30
    IowaatOregon
    CBB· FS1One-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

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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