What airballs fail to touch NYT crossword clue

The answer to the clue “What airballs fail to touch” is RIM. In basketball, an airball is a shot that misses the hoop entirely, failing to touch either the rim or the backboard. The rim is the metal ring that the ball is supposed to go through, and when a shot doesn’t hit it, the ball has effectively “failed to touch” the rim.

In crossword puzzles, sports-related clues often rely on terms that are widely known in the context of the game. The “rim” is a central part of the basketball hoop, making it the perfect answer for a clue about an airball’s failure.