| 100% | NBAGAME | 7 | Contest between the Celtics and the Lakers, for instance: 2 wds. |
| 48% | ARMBONES | 8 | The humerus and the radius, for example: 2 wds. |
| 47% | DANGELORUSSEL | 13 | No. 1 guard for the LA Lakers, and Jerry West award winner in 2015 : 2 wds. |
| 44% | CIVILWAR | 8 | Conflict between the Confederate and Union armies: 2 wds. |
| 44% | NBATEAMS | 8 | Knicks and Celtics, for example: 2 wds. |
| 44% | LEBRONJAMES | 11 | Four-time NBA MVP who now plays for the Lakers, and is part of the voice cast for "Smallfoot" (releasing tomorrow): 2 wds. |
| 44% | TOMHEINSOHN | 11 | American retired professional basketball player who won 8 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics and coached the team for 9 seasons: 2 wds. |
| 43% | SALLYFIELD | 10 | Actress who had a 28-year gap between Oscar nominations for 1984's "Places in the Heart" and 2012's "Lincoln": 2 wds. |
| 43% | BOYBAND | 7 | New Kids on the Block or 'N Sync, for instance: 2 wds. |
| 42% | SHAQUILLEONEAL | 14 | Lakers great who's an analyst for "Inside the NBA": 2 wds. |
| 42% | ANEW | 4 | "I Want ___ Drug" (hit for Huey Lewis and the News): 2 wds. |
| 42% | BYRONSCOTT | 10 | One of the greatest players of the LA Lakers who won three NBA Championships and went on to coach the team for two years: 2 wds. |
| 42% | GOLDCARD | 8 | American Express item that falls between the Green and Platinum levels: 2 wds. |
| 42% | IDIOMS | 6 | "Toe the line" and "thumb a ride," for example: 2 wds. |
| 42% | DARKBLUE | 8 | Color on the spaces for 24- and 42-Across: 2 wds. |
| 42% | TANEHISICOATES | 14 | African-American author of "Between the World and Me," winner of the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction: 2 wds. |
| 42% | ISIN | 4 | "The doctor ___ the room and available for consultation.": 2 wds. |
| 42% | NLEAST | 6 | Division for the Phillies and Mets: 2 wds., abbr. |
| 41% | NBATEAMS | 8 | The Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets, for example: 2 wds., abbr. |
| 41% | AFEW | 4 | He gathered ___ men and headed for the field: 2 wds. |
| 41% | PUNKROCK | 8 | Music genre for Green Day and the Ramones: 2 wds. |
| 41% | NBAGAME | 7 | Contest between the Magic and the Wizards, say (Abbr.) |
| 41% | NBATEAMS | 8 | The Warriors and the Lakers, for example |
| 41% | MELISSALEO | 10 | She won the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 41% | CHRISTIANBALE | 13 | He won the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 41% | JOHNLENNON | 10 | English songwriter who co-founded the Beatles and is known for his song "Imagine": 2 wds. |
| 40% | ALANSILVESTRI | 13 | American composer and conductor who scored music for "Back to the Future": 2 wds. |
| 40% | RANDYJOHNSON | 12 | Pitcher who threw no-hitters for the Mariners and Diamondbacks: 2 wds. |
| 40% | GREGMADDUX | 10 | Legendary pitcher nicknamed "Mad Dog," who played for the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs: 2 wds |
| 40% | JLO | 3 | Nickname of the singer known for "All I Have" and "On the Floor": 2 wds. |