Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Wednesday's grid brings a basketball-themed workout with three NBA team puns that demand both sports knowledge and wordplay chops. Whether you're looking for a mid-length challenge or warming up for the full-size puzzle, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring a 10x9 grid with 15 Across and 15 Down clues. It takes about 5-15 minutes to solve, making it perfect for a coffee break or commute. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime.
New puzzles drop daily. The Midi offers more complexity than the Mini while remaining accessible for solvers who want a quick but substantial challenge.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 10x9
Total Clues: 30 (15 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Miami basketball player's golf shot?" (sports + golf terminology)
Gimme Clue: "Campfire residue"
Theme Spotted: "Court Appearances"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Campfire residue
Hint: What's left after the flames die down. Three letters.
4. Bro's sibling
Hint: A brother's sister. Three letters, starts with S.
7. Music player considered retro chic by some Gen Zers
Hint: Apple's iconic early-2000s portable device. Four letters.
9. www.sdsu.___
Hint: Standard university web address ending. Three letters.
10. Coffee supply from an Orlando basketball team?
Hint: Orlando's NBA team + a breakfast staple. Nine letters.
14. ___ de parfum
Hint: French for "water" in fragrance names. Three letters.
15. "Fat chance!"
Hint: A skeptical laugh. Three letters.
16. Miami basketball player's golf shot?
Hint: Miami's NBA team + a golf term for a bad shot. Nine letters.
20. $$$ dispenser
Hint: Bank machine acronym. Three letters.
21. Airport flight listing: Abbr.
Hint: When a plane is expected to arrive. Three letters.
22. Absolute legend on an Oklahoma City basketball team?
Hint: OKC's NBA team + a mythical figure. Nine letters.
27. Nothing to write home about
Hint: Mediocre, just okay. Two words, four letters total.
28. Continental currency
Hint: Currency used across much of Europe. Four letters.
29. Do some quilting
Hint: Needle and thread work. Three letters.
30. "For sure!"
Hint: An enthusiastic affirmative. Three letters.
Down Hints
1. Asset for a biathlete
Hint: Precision and accuracy with a rifle. Three letters.
2. "Me day" destination
Hint: A place for massages and relaxation. Three letters.
3. Take more than one's fair share of
Hint: To monopolize or keep to yourself. Three letters.
4. "Didn't I tell you?"
Hint: Short for "you see." Three letters.
5. Birthplace of the ice cream potato, a novelty dessert that contains no potatoes
Hint: A northwestern U.S. state known for actual potatoes. Five letters.
6. Rishi ___, 2020s British P.M.
Hint: Britain's prime minister from 2022 to 2024. Five letters.
8. A koala's is about 90% eucalyptus leaves
Hint: What an animal eats. Four letters.
11. Checked out before a heist
Hint: Scoped the joint ahead of time. Five letters.
12. Montana city named for a landform
Hint: A standalone hill. Five letters.
13. ___/her pronouns
Hint: The feminine subject pronoun. Three letters.
16. Sombreros and fedoras
Hint: Headwear category. Four letters.
17. Spirit of a culture
Hint: A group's character or guiding beliefs. Five letters.
18. Entertain
Hint: To keep someone amused. Five letters.
19. Like holographic Pokemon cards
Hint: Hard to find and collectible. Four letters.
23. "This instant!"
Hint: Immediately, right away. Three letters.
24. Fella
Hint: A guy, a man. Three letters.
25. Minecraft resource
Hint: What you mine for in the block game. Three letters.
26. Number after uno
Hint: Spanish counting, two. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Campfire residue
Answer: ASH
4. Bro's sibling
Answer: SIS
7. Music player considered retro chic by some Gen Zers
Answer: IPOD
9. www.sdsu.___
Answer: EDU
10. Coffee supply from an Orlando basketball team?
Answer: MAGICBEANS
14. ___ de parfum
Answer: EAU
15. "Fat chance!"
Answer: HAH
16. Miami basketball player's golf shot?
Answer: HEATSTROKE
20. $$$ dispenser
Answer: ATM
21. Airport flight listing: Abbr.
Answer: ETA
22. Absolute legend on an Oklahoma City basketball team?
Answer: THUNDERGOD
27. Nothing to write home about
Answer: SOSO
28. Continental currency
Answer: EURO
29. Do some quilting
Answer: SEW
30. "For sure!"
Answer: YES
Down Answers
1. Asset for a biathlete
Answer: AIM
2. "Me day" destination
Answer: SPA
3. Take more than one's fair share of
Answer: HOG
4. "Didn't I tell you?"
Answer: SEE
5. Birthplace of the ice cream potato, a novelty dessert that contains no potatoes
Answer: IDAHO
6. Rishi ___, 2020s British P.M.
Answer: SUNAK
8. A koala's is about 90% eucalyptus leaves
Answer: DIET
11. Checked out before a heist
Answer: CASED
12. Montana city named for a landform
Answer: BUTTE
13. ___/her pronouns
Answer: SHE
16. Sombreros and fedoras
Answer: HATS
17. Spirit of a culture
Answer: ETHOS
18. Entertain
Answer: AMUSE
19. Like holographic Pokemon cards
Answer: RARE
23. "This instant!"
Answer: NOW
24. Fella
Answer: GUY
25. Minecraft resource
Answer: ORE
26. Number after uno
Answer: DOS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Birthplace of the ice cream potato, a novelty dessert that contains no potatoes" for IDAHO. The misdirection is top-tier: the clue describes a weird dessert while the answer is the state known for actual potatoes.
Wordplay Winner: "Coffee supply from an Orlando basketball team?" for MAGICBEANS. Orlando Magic + coffee beans = a perfect compound pun that rewards solvers who spot the NBA connection early.
Quick Fill: "Campfire residue" for ASH. Three letters, universally known, and a reliable gimme that gets solvers into the grid fast.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When you spot a team name in a clue (Magic, Heat, Thunder), expect a compound word answer that combines the team with another term. The three NBA puns (10A, 16A, 22A) all follow the same formula and solving one unlocks the pattern for the others.
Short fill answers like ASH, SIS, HAH, and YES are Wednesday's gift to speed solvers. Knock out the three-letter words first to reveal crossing letters for the longer theme entries.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The NBA triple-pun theme made this Wednesday puzzle more playful than most. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
