Worth the replay?

Thursday, April 2'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
StanfordatWest Virginia
CBB· FS1OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
A
75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings25/25
Comeback18/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Overtime+8
Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
#2
CavaliersatWarriors
NBADown to the wireBack and forth
B
63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings21/25
Comeback9/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
#3
PredatorsatKings
NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
B
62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings24/25
Comeback1/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Overtime+8
Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
#4
PelicansatTrail Blazers
NBA
B
58/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings18/25
Comeback10/20
Decided late11/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58
#5
TulsaatNew Mexico
CBB· ESPNDown to the wire
B
57/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings20/25
Comeback6/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57
#6
TimberwolvesatPistons
NBA· Prime VideoBack and forth
C+
52/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension29/30
Swings18/25
Comeback7/20
Decided late6/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52
#7
FlamesatGolden Knights
NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
C+
51/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings18/25
Comeback3/20
Decided late6/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51
#8
CanadiensatRangers
NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
C+
45/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings17/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late10/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45
#9
RutgersatCreighton
CBB· FS1Back and forth
C
39/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension18/30
Swings19/25
Comeback6/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39
#10
SabresatSenators
NHL· ESPN+
C
37/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension20/30
Swings15/25
Comeback7/20
Decided late4/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37
#11
BruinsatPanthers
NHL· ESPN+
D
29/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension23/30
Swings5/25
Comeback4/20
Decided late7/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29
#12
MammothatKraken
NHL· ESPN+/Hulu
D
24/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30
Swings19/25
Comeback10/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24
#13
PenguinsatLightning
NHL· ESPN+
D
22/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension4/30
Swings16/25
Comeback3/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22
#14
CapitalsatDevils
NHL· ESPN+/Hulu
D
19/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension5/30
Swings18/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19
#15
SunsatHornets
NBA
D
19/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30
Swings15/25
Comeback5/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19
#16
Red WingsatFlyers
NHL· ESPN+One-sided
D
18/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension5/30
Swings14/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late2/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18
#17
BlackhawksatOilers
NHL· ESPN+One-sided
D
17/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension16/30
Swings6/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17
#18
CanucksatWild
NHL· ESPN+One-sided
D
16/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension3/30
Swings12/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16
#19
SpursatClippers
NBAOne-sided
D
10/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30
Swings11/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10
#20
Maple LeafsatSharks
NHL· ESPN+One-sided
D
9/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension4/30
Swings8/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9
#21
Illinois StatAuburn
CBB· ESPNOne-sided
D
7/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30
Swings4/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7
#22
JetsatStars
NHL· ESPN+One-sided
D
5/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30
Swings6/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5
#23
Blue JacketsatHurricanes
NHL· ESPN+One-sided
D
5/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30
Swings6/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5
#24
LakersatThunder
NBA· Prime VideoOne-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.