Worth the replay?

Friday, March 6'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
    CanadiensatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown 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
    Charleston SoatWinthrop
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    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

  3. #3
    LongwoodatUNC Asheville
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    ValparaisoatBradley
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  5. #5
    PresbyterianatRadford
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  6. #6
    ClippersatSpurs
    NBA· ESPNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  7. #7
    The CitadelatChattanooga
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  8. #8
    SE MissouriatMorehead St
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  9. #9
    GA SouthernatSouth Alabama
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  10. #10
    AvalancheatStars
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  11. #11
    Miami OHatOhio
    CBB· ESPN2OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  12. #12
    HeatatHornets
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  13. #13
    DrakeatBelmont
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  14. #14
    San DiegoatSeattle U
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  15. #15
    BluesatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  16. #16
    VCUatDayton
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  17. #17
    Trail BlazersatRockets
    NBA
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  18. #18
    PelicansatSuns
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  19. #19
    Southern MissatTexas St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  20. #20
    UNLVatSan Diego St
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  21. #21
    CanucksatBlackhawks
    NHL· ESPN+
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

  22. #22
    PortlandatWashington St
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  23. #23
    ColumbiaatHarvard
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43

  24. #24
    Bowling GreenatE Michigan
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  25. #25
    OmahaatSouth Dakota
    CBB
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  26. #26
    PanthersatRed Wings
    NHL· NHL Net
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  27. #27
    FairfieldatSaint Peter's
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

  28. #28
    HurricanesatOilers
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  29. #29
    St John'satSeton Hall
    CBB· FS1
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

  30. #30
    StetsonatAustin Peay
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

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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