Worth the replay?

Thursday, March 12'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
    PredatorsatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    MD EasternatNC Central
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    BlackhawksatMammoth
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    FlyersatWild
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  5. #5
    UMassatMiami OH
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  6. #6
    Loyola ChicagoatDavidson
    CBB· USA NetOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  7. #7
    Alabama A&MatTexas Southern
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  8. #8
    St BonaventureatGeorge Mason
    CBB· USA NetDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  9. #9
    UC San DiegoatCSU Northridge
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  10. #10
    CelticsatThunder
    NBA· Prime VideoDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  11. #11
    NevadaatGrand Canyon
    CBB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  12. #12
    Bowling GreenatToledo
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  13. #13
    NuggetsatSpurs
    NBADown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  14. #14
    AuburnatTennessee
    CBB· SEC NetworkBig comeback
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  15. #15
    LouisvilleatMiami
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  16. #16
    Blue JacketsatPanthers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  17. #17
    CreightonatSeton Hall
    CBB· PeacockDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  18. #18
    IowaatOhio State
    CBB· BTNDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  19. #19
    WizardsatMagic
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  20. #20
    TCUatKansas
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  21. #21
    Florida StatDuke
    CBB· ESPNBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  22. #22
    KentuckyatMissouri
    CBB· SEC NetworkDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  23. #23
    Ole MissatGeorgia
    CBB· SEC NetworkDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  24. #24
    CapitalsatSabres
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  25. #25
    BYUatHouston
    CBB· ESPN2
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  26. #26
    BluesatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  27. #27
    AR-Pine BluffatSouthern
    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 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  28. #28
    FAUatNorth Texas
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  29. #29
    BuffaloatAkron
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  30. #30
    Kennesaw StatWestern KY
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

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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