| 100% | AIRBALL | 7 | *Oops* Basketball blunder where an unblocked shot misses the basket, rim, and backboard |
| 29% | WHIFF | 5 | *Oops* Baseball blunder where the batter swings at a pitch but misses the hit |
| 28% | AIR | 3 | Shot that completely misses the basket |
| 27% | HORSE | 5 | Basketball game where missed shots mean earned letters |
| 27% | AIRBALLS | 8 | Shots that completely miss the basket: 2 wds. |
| 26% | LAYUP | 5 | Close basketball shot made off the backboard |
| 26% | SLAMDUNK | 8 | Basketball power shot that might break the backboard: 2 wds. |
| 25% | JUMPERS | 7 | Some basketball shots ... and the theme of this puzzle |
| 25% | HOOK | 4 | Basketball shot where the player swings their arm with a sweeping motion |
| 25% | LAYUP | 5 | Basketball shot made near the basket |
| 24% | LAYUP | 5 | Basketball shot made using one hand, often by bouncing the ball off the backboard |
| 24% | ZONEDEFENSE | 11 | Basketball strategy where each person guards an area of the court, rather than a specific player |
| 23% | MUSCLE | 6 | Part of the body where an IM shot is given |
| 23% | SLAMDUNK | 8 | Forceful shot in basketball where the ball is put directly through the hoop from above |
| 23% | CANTINA | 7 | Where Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes play |
| 23% | LAYUPS | 6 | Easy basketball shots made near the basket |
| 23% | ATASLANT | 8 | Like an escalator, and, aptly, like the six-letter word that begins where 40-Across ends |
| 23% | FUMBLE | 6 | *Oops* Football blunder where a player loses the ball even before being tackled |
| 23% | START | 5 | *Oops* False ___, track and field blunder where the player jumps the gun |
| 23% | SLAMDUNK | 8 | Basketball shot where the player forces the ball down through the basket after jumping up: 2 wds. |
| 22% | MAN | 3 | "The Invisible ___," thriller movie where the antagonist creates an invisible suit to wear and torment his ex-lover |
| 22% | CINCINNATI | 10 | City where 46-Across played college basketball and the first 11 years of his pro basketball career |
| 22% | COAST | 5 | Where an ocean and a continent meet |
| 22% | POSTSUP | 7 | Nears the basket to shoot |
| 22% | NEST | 4 | Where an expectant parent might sit and wait |
| 21% | LAYUPS | 6 | Shots off the backboard |
| 21% | AHEADOFTHEGAME | 14 | In an advantageous position, or where both halves of the answers to 20-, 26-, and 44-Across can be placed? |
| 21% | LORD | 4 | "___ of the Flies," adventure film where a group of schoolboys get lost on an island and slowly descend into savagery |
| 21% | BANKIN | 6 | Shoot off the backboard successfully |
| 21% | BARWARE | 7 | Shot glasses and the like |