45 Across
NYT Daily • September 6, 2025
Jazz fest?
Answer:
NBA GAME
Hint:
Think of a high-energy event where the crowd roars for slam dunks and three-pointers—it’s not a music concert, but it does have its own kind of rhythm.
Explanation:
Jazz fest?" is a playful misdirection—it sounds like a music festival, but "Jazz" here refers to the Utah Jazz, an NBA team. The question mark signals a pun, hinting that the real answer isn’t about music but about a game involving that team. So instead of a concert, you get an "NBA GAME," where the Jazz actually perform.