The NYT Mini is a smaller, quicker, more digestible, bite-sized version of the larger and more challenging NYT Crossword, and unlike its larger sibling, it’s free-to-play without a subscription to The New York Times. You can play it on the web or the app, though you’ll need the app to tackle the archive.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns.

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It’s Wednesday, January 22, and the Boston Celtics (30-13) and the Los Angeles Clippers (24-18) are all set to square off from Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The Celtics appear at times to be disinterested in the regular season.