Worth the replay?

Tuesday, February 3'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
    SabresatLightning
    NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    PenguinsatIslanders
    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    UNLVatFresno St
    CBB· FS1Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  4. #4
    Kent StateatToledo
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  5. #5
    C MichiganatUMass
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  6. #6
    AkronatE Michigan
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  7. #7
    S IllinoisatIllinois St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  8. #8
    NC StateatSMU
    CBB· ESPN2Big comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  9. #9
    SIUEatLindenwood
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  10. #10
    NevadaatBoise St
    CBBOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  11. #11
    JazzatPacers
    NBADown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  12. #12
    IndianaatUSC
    CBB· Peacock
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  13. #13
    St BonaventureatDayton
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  14. #14
    Miami OHatBuffalo
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  15. #15
    Little RockatUT Martin
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  16. #16
    SenatorsatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  17. #17
    VCUatFordham
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  18. #18
    CapitalsatFlyers
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  19. #19
    South CarolinaatTexas
    CBB· SEC NetworkBack and forth
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  20. #20
    NuggetsatPistons
    NBA
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  21. #21
    SunsatTrail Blazers
    NBA· NBC/PeacockBig comeback
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  22. #22
    Saint LouisatDavidson
    CBB· CBSSN
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  23. #23
    La SalleatLoyola Chicago
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

  24. #24
    76ersatWarriors
    NBA
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  25. #25
    Maple LeafsatOilers
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

  26. #26
    Blue JacketsatDevils
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

  27. #27
    CanisiusatNiagara
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  28. #28
    UICatMurray St
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  29. #29
    HawksatHeat
    NBA
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  30. #30
    BullsatBucks
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

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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