The 15 Best Plays of 2018

From Giannis's epic throwdown to Benjamin Pavard's World Cup goal to James Harden's vicious crossover, these are the most memorable plays & moments in sports.

James Harden Clippers Rockets March 2018
USA Today Sports

Mar 15, 2018; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

James Harden Clippers Rockets March 2018

The world of sports has produced plenty of extraordinary moments over the past 12 months. From the Eagles winning their first Super Bowl to the Warriors capturing their third NBA championship in the last four seasons against the Cavaliers, not to mention Alabama and Villanova each adding another piece of hardware to their respective trophy cases, 2018 was one for the books. And boy, did it fly by.

Among many of those remarkable moments were some mouth-gaping plays that defied human belief and left us utterly speechless. Whether it was a game-winning shot at the buzzer or a diving catch with the season on the line, one play can often determine a game’s outcome and change the course of history—then we forever immortalize it in Gif form. So, as we look back at the year that was, these were the best plays—the ones that we couldn’t stop watching over and over again—from 2018.

15. James Harden humiliates Wesley Johnson

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We all know James Harden has a killer crossover, but unfortunately for NBA veteran Wesley Johnson and the Clippers, they managed to find out the hard way one night on their home floor. Not only did Harden humiliate Johnson and make him crumble to the ground with a nasty through-the-legs move, but the reigning MVP also made sure to stare him down before swishing a three. If that’s not trolling your opponent on the basketball court, then I don’t know what is. I mean, even Clippers fans were in awe! Just listen to the crowd. The Rockets were already winning the game 28-7, so Harden only made matters worse for the Clippers. Plus, that’s one play Johnson will probably never be able to live down. Sorry, Wes.

14. Benjamin Pavard’s strike from deep in the World Cup

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This year’s FIFA World Cup provided its fair share of drama with defending champion Germany failing to advance out of the group stage and Spain losing to underdog Russia on penalty kicks in the Round of 16, but the month-long tournament also saw some sick goals from some of the world’s finest soccer players and one came from none other than France’s Benjamin Pavard. With his team facing a 2-1 deficit against Lionel Messi and Argentina, the 22-year-old defender took a long cross from teammate Lucas Hernández and launched an absolute rocket from just outside the 18 into the back of the net. Pavard’s strike quickly turned the match in his team’s favor, leading to two more unanswered goals in the second half for a 4-3 win, and France would never trail again on its way to winning a second World Cup.

13. LeBron throws down over Jusuf Nurkić

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You didn’t think we would compile this list without including LeBron James, did you? The King took his talents to Los Angeles this past offseason, but his last hurrah with the Cavaliers wasn’t exactly short on highlights either, especially when he visited the Moda Center and made Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkić “a screensaver,” according to the team’s veteran play-by-play commentator Fred McLeod. Or as TNT’s Kevin Harlon might say, LeBron showed absolutely “no regard for human life!” Whichever of the two phrases you prefer, the sheer power and force that LeBron exhibits upon takeoff is really a sight to behold. I’m honestly not sure if he could have thrown it down much harder, giving Lakers fans at least one reason why they should be excited about the next four years of “LABron.”

12. Ramón Laureano's long-distance double play

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Every MLB season we witness some spectacular defensive plays, but Ramón Laureano’s was certainly one we have never seen before. With one out and a runner on first base, Angels slugger Justin Upton drove a ball deep into left-centerfield that looked like it should easily drop for a double, but not with Laureano manning the outfield. The 24-year-old rookie, who was called up to the majors only a week before, turned on the jets and tracked down the ball to make a dazzling running catch. Yet, Laureano somehow also had the presence of mind, thanks to his teammate Chad Pinder, to slam on the brakes and launch a 321-foot throw to first base to double off Eric Young Jr. and end the inning.

11. A Cinderella buzzer-beater

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No sporting event loves an underdog more than the NCAA Tournament. In 2018, the glass slipper belonged to Loyola-Chicago. The Ramblers, fueled by the good fortune of their 99-year-old chaplain Sister Jean, made it all the way to the Final Four for the first time in 55 years, and let’s just say there were more than a few dramatic finishes along the way. It started in the first round, where they met No. 6 seed Miami (FL). Trailing by one with 9.3 seconds left, Loyola-Chicago grabbed the rebound off a missed free throw by Lonnie Walker IV and pushed the ball down the court where Marque Townes found Donte Ingram at the top of the key. The senior, though, never hesitated, pulling up from deep and knocking down a buzzer-beater that had Loyola fans going berserk after their first NCAA Tournament victory in 33 years.

10. Derrick Henry takes it to the house

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The NFL’s Thursday Night Football package took a step in the right direction this season with more must-see matchups than ever before. Jaguars vs. Titans, however, never seems to fall into that category. At least Derrick Henry gave us something to talk about from a dreadful game. The Titans running back, who is having his best year yet, took a handoff from his own 1-yard line midway through the second quarter and never looked back. But what was most astonishing about Henry’s 99-yard touchdown run, besides it being only the second in NFL history after Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett’s, was the way he completely manhandled all three Jaguars players who tried to take him down, stiff-arming A.J. Bouye out of the play, throwing Leon Jacobs to the ground, and shedding Myles Jack’s tackle. Jacksonville’s porous defense will have the entire offseason to revisit that one.

9. Giannis hurdles Tim Hardaway Jr.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the most exciting young players in the NBA over the past three seasons, and it’s plays like this one that make that claim undoubtedly true. The “Greek Freak” knows how to bring a crowd to its feet with his high-flying dunks, and the one he threw down at Madison Square Garden back in February was that and more. With teammate Khris Middleton stealing a cross-court pass by Lance Thomas, Antetokounmpo ran the fast break and took flight, hurdling over Tim Hardaway Jr. for what was possibly the best alley-oop finish we have never seen. If you’re not sure, take a look at longtime Knicks fan John McEnroe’s face afterward, which really says it all. Man, do Knicks fans wish they had Giannis on their team right about now.

8. Kevin Durant puts the nail in the coffin…again

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No play during the 2017 NBA Finals was more recognized than Kevin Durant’s series-clinching 3-pointer over LeBron James in Game 5 with 45.3 seconds left. For Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, it was the dagger that they failed to deliver the previous season vs. Cleveland. So, if you thought that was good, then you’ll want to see what KD did the following June because the guy literally one-ups himself in Game 4 of the 2018 NBA Finals. With nearly the same amount of time remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter (50 seconds) and almost from the same spot on the court Durant sunk another three to break the Cavaliers’ backs and secure Golden State’s third title in four years. Talk about having ice in your veins.

7. Tua Tagovailoa for the win

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It seems like every year Alabama coach Nick Saban has the Crimson Tide playing in college football’s national championship game, and this year was no different. But after a terrible first half by starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, Saban went to his freshman backup, Tua Tagovailoa, who led Alabama back from a 13-0 halftime deficit to send the game into overtime. That’s when Tagovailoa completed the ultimate comeback, hitting a wide-open DeVonta Smith for a 46-yard touchdown that immediately ended the game and sent the confetti falling. What might be most amazing about this play is Tagovailoa was sacked on the previous play for a 16-yard loss, putting his team in a serious hole on second and 26. Still, kudos to Saban for making the switch at quarterback. That’s why he’s the best college football coach in the business, of course.

6. Another March buzzer-beater

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Although Loyola-Chicago stole most of the show with their theatrics during the NCAA Tournament, Michigan had a moment of its own in reaching college basketball’s national championship game. Down two with 3.6 seconds remaining in the second round of the West Regional, the Wolverines’ season was in danger of coming to an end, having to go the length of the floor to either extend or win the game. As Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman caught an inbounds pass from Isaiah Livers and dribbled up court, he found Jordan Poole open on the right wing. The freshman guard got the pass and in one motion fired off a 30-foot shot with his legs spread wide in a rather unorthodox way. He hit nothing but net and sent Michigan into the Sweet 16. It’s why every sports fan in America should love March.

5. The Philly Special

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Beating the Patriots, Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick in the Super Bowl is no easy task—except for Eli Manning. But Eagles head coach Doug Pederson knew it was going to take something extra special if he wanted to knock off the defending champs. So, leading New England by three and facing a fourth and goal from the 1-yard line with 38 seconds left in the second quarter, Pederson dug into his bag of tricks and pulled out a winner. Eagles quarterback Nick Foles went into motion after barking out signals, leaving only running back Corey Clement in the backfield as Foles motioned right. The snap went directly to Clement, who then quickly tossed to wide receiver Trey Burton as if it was going to be your standard reverse. But that’s when the real trickery unfolded as Burton stopped on a dime and hit Foles in the back of the end zone with a pass to give Philly a 22-12 lead. Besides winning the game, what made this play even sweeter for Eagles fans—and bitter for Patriots fans—was that Brady dropped a pass from wide receiver Danny Amendola on a similar play earlier in the game.

4. Braden Holtby saves the Capitals’ season

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Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin has received most of the headlines for Washington since joining the club more than a decade ago, and rightfully so, considering he has led the NHL in scoring for half of his career. But goalie Braden Holtby may have been the Caps’ biggest unsung hero during the Stanley Cup Final with the Golden Knights already holding a 1-0 series lead as part of an amazing first season in the league. Leading 3-2 with two minutes remaining in Game 2, Washington was looking to hold on for the win when Vegas sent the puck into the zone and saw it take a fortunate bounce off the boards right to Cody Eakin, who crossed to Alex Tuch for what looked like a wide-open, game-tying goal. I mean, even the Vegas fans thought he had scored! Holtby never gave up on the play though, making an absolutely unbelievable save, one that former Capitals goaltender Olaf Kölzig proclaimed afterward is the best he has ever seen.

3. The Miami Miracle

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Who doesn’t like watching the Patriots lose? Well, unless you’re a Patriots fan of course. What looked like another New England win—and moving one step closer to their 10th consecutive AFC East crown—was miraculously spoiled when Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill dropped back for the final play of the game and found wide receiver Kenny Stills over the middle right near midfield, who pitched the ball to wide receiver DeVante Parker, who then quickly lateraled it back to running back Kenyan Drake. But when Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy dove and missed a tackle on Drake near his team’s sideline, that’s when things started to get interesting as Drake smartly waited for his blockers to get downfield before turning upfield and accelerating toward the end zone with one man to beat. And that one man was…Rob Gronkowski?!?! Don’t ask me why Gronk was playing defense at the end of the game when his teammates knew that Miami wasn’t going to throw a Hail Mary from its own 31-yard line.

2. The Minneapolis Miracle

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Most years this would probably rank as the best play, but 2018 was a special one as you can see here. For Vikings fans though, the Minneapolis Miracle was a belated Christmas gift that they’ll never forget (and a memory Saints fans want to erase). Losing 24-23 and down to their final play, Vikings quarterback Case Keenum took a shotgun snap from Minnesota’s own 39-yard line and delivered a high sideline pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs that he had to elevate for. But New Orleans free safety Marcus Williams completely missed Diggs on the way down, taking out his own teammate Ken Crawley and sending Diggs off to the races for an irrefutably jaw-dropping 61-yard touchdown and a trip to the NFC Championship game.

1. Arike Ogunbowale’s back-to-back buzzer beaters

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Didn’t think we’d feature women’s college basketball on here, did you? But this deserves it. Allow me to explain...junior guard Arike Ogunbowale had already hit a last-second shot in OT against UConn two days earlier in the national semifinals to move Notre Dame into the title game against Mississippi State. But Ogunbowale incredibly had the opportunity to again play hero with a title on the line. With three ticks left on the clock, Ogunbowale fought through the Bulldogs’ defense to receive the inbounds pass by teammate Jackie Young before taking two dribbles to her right and launching a fading moon shot that touched nothing but nylon. Cold. Blooded. When you sink back-to-back buzzer-beaters to win a national championship, does it get any better than that?

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