Worth the replay?

Thursday, March 19'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
    VCUatNorth Carolina
    CBB· TNTOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    SunsatSpurs
    NBADown 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 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  3. #3
    High PointatWisconsin
    CBB· TBSDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  4. #4
    FlyersatKings
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  5. #5
    TCUatOhio State
    CBB· CBSDown to the wire
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  6. #6
    IslandersatSenators
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  7. #7
    ClippersatPelicans
    NBADown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  8. #8
    CanadiensatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  9. #9
    LakersatHeat
    NBABig comeback
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  10. #10
    TexasatBYU
    CBB· TBS
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  11. #11
    CavaliersatBulls
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  12. #12
    BlackhawksatWild
    NHL· ESPN+/Hulu
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  13. #13
    SienaatDuke
    CBB· CBS
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

  14. #14
    KrakenatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  15. #15
    McNeeseatVanderbilt
    CBB· truTV
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

  16. #16
    BucksatJazz
    NBA
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  17. #17
    RangersatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  18. #18
    Kennesaw StatGonzaga
    CBB· TBSOne-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings2/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

  19. #19
    MagicatHornets
    NBA· NBA TVOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

  20. #20
    South FloridaatLouisville
    CBB· TNTOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

  21. #21
    76ersatKings
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

  22. #22
    Texas A&MatSaint Mary's
    CBB· truTVOne-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

  23. #23
    PanthersatOilers
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

  24. #24
    Saint LouisatGeorgia
    CBB· CBSOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

  25. #25
    MammothatGolden Knights
    NHL· ESPN+/HuluOne-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

  26. #26
    JetsatBruins
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

  27. #27
    SabresatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

  28. #28
    TroyatNebraska
    CBB· truTVOne-sided
    D
    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4

  29. #29
    LightningatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3

  30. #30
    PennatIllinois
    CBB· TNTOne-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

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.

Get the weekend's best games every Friday

The most watchable games across every sport, what's at stake in the playoff races, and last week's best games, spoiler-free. Free, one email a week.

Sports you care about