Theme: Basketball Stat - Three phrases that graphically represent this desirable B-ball statistic.
54A. Ten or more points, rebounds and assists in one game, in hoops lingo ... and a literal feature of 20-, 33- and 43-Across: TRIPLE DOUBLE
20A. Played the Samaritan: DID A GOOD DEED
33A. Ones who once shared quarters: FORMER ROOMMATES
43A. Love sugary snacks, say: HAVE A SWEET TOOTH
Argyle here. Rows: 16, Columns: 15. David's second puzzle for us. The gimmick was obvious but needed the reveal to make sense of it.
Across:
1. Vulgar: LEWD
5. Cancel, as a mission: ABORT
10. Leave in a hurry: BAIL
14. Gobi Desert continent: ASIA
15. Calf-roping event: RODEO
16. "The __ Duckling": UGLY
17. Writer Ayn: RAND
18. Harmless garden slitherer: GREEN SNAKE
22. Italian automaker: FIAT
23. "The Big Bang Theory," for one: SITCOM
27. Big bang: BLAST
29. Rock band staple: AMP
32. Gush: SPURT
36. Juicy Fruit, e.g.: GUM
37. Cause of shrinking beaches: EROSION
38. Delivers the news: REPORTS
40. Cup o' mud: JOE
48. Up in the air: ALOFT
49. Ukr., until 1991: SSR. Ukraine, a former Soviet Socialist Republic.
50. Many Middle Easterners: ARABs
51. More alluring: SEXIER
53. App symbol: ICON
60. Minor infraction: PETTY CRIME
63. Special forces mission: RAID
64. Ointment additive: ALOE
65. Fertile desert spot: OASIS
66. Thomas __, 9/11 Commission chairman: KEAN. Former Governor of New Jersey.
67. Snowy day toy: SLED
68. Hilton rival: HYATT. Hotels.
69. Poet Pound: EZRA. List of his works.
Down:
1. Cooking fat: LARD
2. Morales of "NYPD Blue": ESAI
3. Collection of energy-producing turbines: WIND FARM
4. Avant-garde art movement: DADAISM
5. Specialized jargon: ARGOT
6. NYC division: BORO. (borough)
7. Took too much, briefly: ODed
8. Clarinet insert: REED
9. Shades of color: TONES
10. Baker's ring-shaped mold: BUNDT PAN
11. Turkish honorific: AGA
12. Type: ILK
13. Caustic chemical: LYE
19. Earthquake prefix: SEISMO
21. Garden entrance: GATE
24. Piece of the action, or a shout that stops the action: CUT. Best entry, IMHO.
25. Valuable underground find: ORE
26. Peaks: Abbr.: MTs
27. 2016 film based on a Roald Dahl novel, with "The": BFG. "Big Friendly Giant"
28. Baseball's Gehrig: LOU
29. Archery ammo: ARROWS
30. Poet Marianne and actress Julianne: MOOREs. Unlikely pairing.
31. Dorm decoration: POSTER
34. Workout count: REPS. Short for repetitions.
35. Waterfall spray: MIST. CSO Niagara Falls.
38. Updated, as factory equipment: REFITTED
39. Diner, drive-in or dive: EATERY
40. 1969 Woodstock folk singer: JOAN BAEZ. I can't say as if I ever heard this one before.
41. Gambling venue letters: OTB. (Off Track Betting)
42. "I didn't hear you" sounds: EHs?
43. Gives birth to: HAS
44. Pub brew: ALE
45. __ populi: popular opinion: VOX
46. Food truck fare: TACO
47. Political satirist P.J.: O'ROURKE
52. Copier maker: RICOH. Japanese multinational imaging and electronics company.
53. That is, in Latin: ID EST
55. Ask for divine guidance: PRAY
56. Pop singer Loeb: LISA. I prefer the Cass Elliot version. The first recording was done by Ozzie Nelson! Give a listen.
57. Discharge: EMIT
58. Perjurer: LIAR
59. Writer Ferber: EDNA
60. __ de deux: PAS. (in ballet) a dance for two people.
61. Pipe bend: ELL
62. Digit on a foot: TOE
Argyle
