Not every incredible play goes into the scorebooks.
A clutch touchdown gets called back for holding. A windmill dunk comes a quarter-second after a whistle. A game-changing historical moment simply … doesn’t happen. But everyone still remembers, because something about a play that gets called back ennobles it in our minds.
A play like that just happened in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the and . With just over six minutes left in the third quarter, Knicks forward attacked the basket for a poster slam. Only one problem — Celtics guard held his ground and stood above the restricted area to draw a charge.
Anunoby was called for an offensive foul, wiping out an emphatic jam.
D-WHITE MAKING IT HAPPEN 💪💪
Stands in to take the charge… and then immediately scores on the other end!
📺 BOS leads in Game 2 on TNT
That got us thinking of some other incredible plays that didn’t count. Here are some of the best ones that came to mind.
In the ‘ victory over the in December 2024, Bills quarterback pulled off a miraculous play. On third-and-goal with 2:55 remaining in the game, Allen scrambled out of the pocket to avoid a sack. Right before he crossed the line of scrimmage, Allen lobbed a chest pass to for the touchdown.
But Allen’s textbook pass was all for naught due to a holding penalty on Buffalo that nullified the play.
It got called back but we have to show you this alley oop from Josh Allen 😂
📺: on CBS/Paramount+
📱:
During the to the , it was set up on second and 10 as Kansas City trailed 20-17 with 1:25 remaining. connected with on a 25-yard pass. The star tight end was surrounded by three Buffalo defenders then tossed a lateral pass to , who made a 24-yard trot to the end zone.
But Kelce’s perfect spiral was all for naught due to an offsides penalty on Toney that nullified the touchdown.
During the and preseason game in 2023, Whitmore’s posterizing dunk over being waved off by a charge call.
Henry has made more than one defender regret their attempts to tackle him, and on this five-yard run in Week 5 of the 2020 NFL season, the running back put cornerback Norman on that list. The run was called back due to holding, but let’s be real: The damage was already done.
Derrick Henry 😳💪
📺: on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app:
The tight end snagged this incredible one-hander in a Week 2 matchup against the this season. Unfortunately, an illegal touch flag on Bowers called it back, but catches like this are why he’s one of the most versatile players in the nation.
Brock Bowers everyone.
Things have been pretty dire lately for the , but let it never be said that they’re not trying. In this loss to the in Week 2 of the 2023 season, completed a pass to that would leave them short of a much-needed first down. Gesicki lateralled to offensive lineman , who powered forward and looked like he got the necessary yardage. A review placed him just behind the line, however, and the play would not quite enter the pantheon of “big man runs.”
After review, the ball was short of the 1st down, but what an effort by and
📺: on NBC
📱: Stream on
OK, there was a little bit of offensive pass interference in this 2018 Houston Texans game against the Miami Dolphins. But let’s appreciate just how much focus and control Hopkins needed to pull off this one-handed grab.
It didn’t count, but it did to :
Ankiel’s story is fascinating — a pitching phenom who lost all control reinvents himself as a slugging outfielder with a cannon arm. Opposing players quickly learned not to run on him, and no play made that more evident than Jordan Schafer, who stole 103 bases in the majors, deciding not to run at all on this laser beam of a throw from center field in 2014. It only showed up in the scorebooks as a putout in center field — but everyone at the game knew what it really meant.
is very lucky that Ja Morant just missed landing this dunk, otherwise it’d be on NBA highlight reels forever. Morant was still a rookie when he jumped over the 6’8″ Love and went up for a slam. He slightly misjudged it, however, and Love managed to keep his dignity.
Ja Morant will never forget his missed dunk against Kevin Love 😂 (via NBA Today)
“Probably would’ve been the best dunk ever. Definitely for me and definitely could have been one of the top dunks in the league.”
