Worth the replay?

Sunday, March 22'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
    SabresatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    IowaatFlorida
    CBB· TBSDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ 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) = 72

  3. #3
    Saint Joseph'satCalifornia
    CBB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  4. #4
    LightningatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  5. #5
    Illinois StatWake Forest
    CBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  6. #6
    PredatorsatBlackhawks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  7. #7
    AvalancheatCapitals
    NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  8. #8
    KingsatMammoth
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  9. #9
    NetsatKings
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

  10. #10
    JetsatRangers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  11. #11
    TennesseeatVirginia
    CBB· TNTDown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  12. #12
    St John'satKansas
    CBB· CBSDown to the wire
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  13. #13
    Golden KnightsatStars
    NHL· NHL NetDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  14. #14
    UCLAatUConn
    CBB· TNTBack and forth
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  15. #15
    TimberwolvesatCeltics
    NBA· NBC/PeacockBig comeback
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  16. #16
    MiamiatPurdue
    CBB· CBSBack and forth
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  17. #17
    KentuckyatIowa State
    CBB· CBS
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  18. #18
    Wichita StatOklahoma St
    CBB· ESPN2
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

  19. #19
    Blue JacketsatIslanders
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  20. #20
    Utah StateatArizona
    CBB· truTVOne-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

  21. #21
    RaptorsatSuns
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  22. #22
    G WashingtonatNew Mexico
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  23. #23
    Trail BlazersatNuggets
    NBA· NBA TVOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  24. #24
    UNLVatTulsa
    CBB· ESPNUOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  25. #25
    Texas TechatAlabama
    CBB· TBSOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  26. #26
    HurricanesatPenguins
    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
    Seattle UatAuburn
    CBB· ESPN2One-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  28. #28
    WizardsatKnicks
    NBAOne-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.

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