Worth the replay?

Sunday, March 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
    CharlotteatFAU
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  2. #2
    CharlestonatUNC Wilmington
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  3. #3
    PanthersatIslanders
    NHL· ESPNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  4. #4
    RiceatTemple
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    QuinnipiacatCanisius
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  6. #6
    North TexasatUAB
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  7. #7
    BelmontatIllinois St
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  8. #8
    RutgersatMaryland
    CBB· FS1Down to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  9. #9
    DePaulatMarquette
    CBB· FS1Down to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  10. #10
    FlamesatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  11. #11
    Saint Peter'satMarist
    CBB· ESPNU/ESPN+Big comeback
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  12. #12
    JetsatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  13. #13
    La SalleatDavidson
    CBB· USA NetDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  14. #14
    BluesatWild
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  15. #15
    CavaliersatNets
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  16. #16
    IonaatManhattan
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  17. #17
    Murray StatBradley
    CBB· ESPN2/ESPN+
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  18. #18
    S IllinoisatEvansville
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  19. #19
    TimberwolvesatNuggets
    NBA· ABCBack and forth
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

  20. #20
    BucksatBulls
    NBABig comeback
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  21. #21
    PurdueatOhio State
    CBB· CBS
    C
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  22. #22
    PistonsatMagic
    NBA
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  23. #23
    MemphisatEast Carolina
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  24. #24
    GrizzliesatPacers
    NBA
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  25. #25
    76ersatCeltics
    NBA· NBC/Peacock
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  26. #26
    UICatIndiana St
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  27. #27
    SpursatKnicks
    NBA· ABC
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

  28. #28
    Mount St MarysatFairfield
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  29. #29
    BlackhawksatMammoth
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  30. #30
    Northern IowaatDrake
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

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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