NYT Connections — July 18, 2026

One easy group covers rule violations a player might get whistled for on a basketball court, like moving your feet wrong or messing with a shot near the rim.

Another group gathers words that all describe a personal way of seeing or thinking about something.

A trickier group names things a video game keeps a running tally or meter of, from your remaining chances to the clock running down.

The hardest group hides a short, punchy prefix in front of each word — think mainstream culture, a pastry from the toaster, a pop-up quiz, and a short, high hit.

Watch out: the short high hit sounds like a basketball or baseball move, but it actually belongs with the toaster pastry and the surprise quiz, not the court violations.