Worth the replay?

Saturday, March 21'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
    HeatatRockets
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    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

  2. #2
    LakersatMagic
    NBA· NBA TVDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  3. #3
    JetsatPenguins
    NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  4. #4
    ClippersatMavericks
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  5. #5
    CavaliersatPelicans
    NBADown 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

  6. #6
    BucksatSuns
    NBA· NBA TVDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  7. #7
    TexasatGonzaga
    CBB· truTV/TBSDown 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

  8. #8
    VanderbiltatNebraska
    CBB· TNTDown to the wire
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  9. #9
    LibertyatNevada
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  10. #10
    StarsatWild
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  11. #11
    76ersatJazz
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  12. #12
    High PointatArkansas
    CBB· truTV/TBSDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  13. #13
    BruinsatRed Wings
    NHL· ABC
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  14. #14
    SabresatKings
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  15. #15
    FlyersatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  16. #16
    LightningatOilers
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  17. #17
    IslandersatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

  18. #18
    DaytonatUNC Wilmington
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  19. #19
    LouisvilleatMichigan St
    CBB· CBS
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  20. #20
    BluesatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  21. #21
    WarriorsatHawks
    NBA
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

  22. #22
    KrakenatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

  23. #23
    Saint LouisatMichigan
    CBB· CBSOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  24. #24
    ThunderatWizards
    NBABack and forthOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

  25. #25
    Golden KnightsatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

  26. #26
    TCUatDuke
    CBB· CBSOne-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

  27. #27
    VCUatIllinois
    CBB· CBSOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

  28. #28
    Maple LeafsatSenators
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  29. #29
    Texas A&MatHouston
    CBB· TNTOne-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

  30. #30
    GrizzliesatHornets
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    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.

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