Worth the replay?

Sunday, February 22'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
    IonaatMerrimack
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    NetsatHawks
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  3. #3
    NiagaraatRider
    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
    Boston UatLehigh
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  5. #5
    Sacred HeartatMarist
    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

  6. #6
    Green BayatDetroit Mercy
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  7. #7
    FAUatNorth Texas
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  8. #8
    FairfieldatQuinnipiac
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  9. #9
    NuggetsatWarriors
    NBA· ABCDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  10. #10
    MagicatClippers
    NBA· NBA TVDown to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  11. #11
    Holy CrossatBucknell
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  12. #12
    Purdue FWatCleveland St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  13. #13
    KnicksatBulls
    NBADown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  14. #14
    UABatMemphis
    CBB· ESPN2
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  15. #15
    Robert MorrisatWright St
    CBB· ESPNU
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  16. #16
    MilwaukeeatOakland
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  17. #17
    CavaliersatThunder
    NBA· ABC
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  18. #18
    TowsonatDrexel
    CBB· CBSSN
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

  19. #19
    N KentuckyatYoungstown St
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  20. #20
    IowaatWisconsin
    CBB· FS1
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  21. #21
    MavericksatPacers
    NBA
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    Ohio StateatMichigan St
    CBB· CBS
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  23. #23
    AmericanatLafayette
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  24. #24
    RiceatTulane
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  25. #25
    76ersatTimberwolves
    NBA
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26

  26. #26
    Trail BlazersatSuns
    NBA
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  27. #27
    RaptorsatBucks
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  28. #28
    CanisiusatMount St Marys
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

  29. #29
    CelticsatLakers
    NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

  30. #30
    Saint Peter'satSiena
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    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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