🔎 NBAGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationMulti-step word problemsDivision
The Championship Ball Caper
The legendary Golden Championship Ball has gone missing right before the big NBA Finals game! A mysterious sneaker-wearing bandit snuck onto the center court and swapped the real trophy with a bouncy rubber fake.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Signature Move | Sneaker Tech | Shooting Hand | Headband Style | Silly Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Brown | Sky Hook | Glow In Dark Laces | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| James Harden | Sky Hook | Spring Heels | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| Trae Young | Spin Move | Spring Heels | Left Handed Shooter | Stripe White Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| Donovan Mitchell | Spin Move | Air Cushion Soles | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Frequent Double Dribble |
| Bam Adebayo | Spin Move | Glow In Dark Laces | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| Paul George | No Look Pass | Air Cushion Soles | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| DeAaron Fox | Killer Crossover | Sticky Sole Grip | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Squeaky Sneakers |
| LeBron James | Step Back Three | Sticky Sole Grip | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| Devin Booker | Step Back Three | Air Cushion Soles | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| Kevin Durant | Spin Move | Air Cushion Soles | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Frequent Double Dribble |
| Anthony Davis | No Look Pass | Spring Heels | Right Handed Shooter | Solid Black Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| Damian Lillard | No Look Pass | Sticky Sole Grip | Left Handed Shooter | Stripe White Headband | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Kawhi Leonard | Killer Crossover | Turbo Foam Cushions | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| Zion Williamson | Sky Hook | Turbo Foam Cushions | Right Handed Shooter | Stripe White Headband | Frequent Double Dribble |
| Nikola Jokic | Killer Crossover | Spring Heels | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Stephen Curry | Step Back Three | Turbo Foam Cushions | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| Kyrie Irving | No Look Pass | Spring Heels | Right Handed Shooter | Stripe White Headband | Always Ball Hogging |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | No Look Pass | Air Cushion Soles | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Frequent Double Dribble |
| Luka Doncic | Step Back Three | Spring Heels | Right Handed Shooter | Stripe White Headband | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Anthony Edwards | No Look Pass | Sticky Sole Grip | Right Handed Shooter | Solid Black Headband | Frequent Double Dribble |
| Joel Embiid | No Look Pass | Air Cushion Soles | Left Handed Shooter | Solid Black Headband | Squeaky Sneakers |
Clue 1
Addition
The coach is counting up all the practice basketballs in the equipment room. Add these balls together to find the first clue!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
7195
9003
6102
5739
5448
2718
2082
9808
T
7195
2082
7229
6102
3457
2718
7229
T
7195
6054
3457
6102
3634
7822
7229
8665
9808
2718
2082
5448
6490
6584
7822
5448
2353
6102
3457
4267 + 2928 =T
4560 + 3262 =L
2055 + 4529 =K
6622 + 3186 =I
3182 + 2266 =A
906 + 1176 =D
3753 + 2349 =E
4735 + 3930 =W
1700 + 1757 =S
872 + 1481 =C
3005 + 5998 =H
1749 + 969 =N
3582 + 2908 =R
1378 + 2256 =G
1754 + 3985 =B
3680 + 2374 =U
2857 + 4372 =O
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
The defense took away some of the training cones on the court. Subtract the lost cones to reveal the next clue!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
4126
6764
7856
T
4126
6764
8834
7856
3408
7793
6764
4382
T
4126
T
4126
6764
7856
2473
8738
8052
8052
5924
8834
T
4126
6764
T
4126
6764
7856
8834
5825
5825
8834
1147
6764
T
4126
6764
8738
8197
4586
7427 - 3301 =T
8365 - 3779 =D
8487 - 4105 =O
11236 - 3443 =S
9293 - 1241 =L
9392 - 3468 =W
9444 - 1247 =N
5161 - 1753 =F
12093 - 3259 =I
10731 - 4906 =R
12832 - 4094 =A
10694 - 3930 =H
2750 - 1603 =G
9437 - 1581 =E
5472 - 2999 =B
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Each big metal rack holds the exact same number of player jerseys. Multiply the racks by jerseys to unlock this clue!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
54
88
44
63
60
100
25
44
30
28
64
20
T
54
70
56
44
96
T
54
88
44
4
24
100
60
60
88
20
11
11
70
64
11
100
60
20
T
54
6 × 9 =T
4 × 11 =E
1 × 4 =M
7 × 8 =C
5 × 5 =Y
8 × 8 =N
6 × 4 =B
10 × 2 =O
4 × 7 =S
12 × 8 =D
1 × 11 =G
10 × 10 =A
6 × 10 =L
9 × 7 =P
7 × 10 =I
5 × 6 =R
11 × 8 =H
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Multi-step word problems
The stadium ticket booth sold many seats, had some returned, and then sold more. Solve this puzzle to get the clue!
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
N
50
25
82
N
50
6
75
25
25
N
50
84
25
70
D
B
70
N
50
D
There were 304 towels in all. 2 the Hoop Stars used 27 towels each. The other 5 the Hoop Stars shared the rest equally. How many towels did each of the other the Hoop Stars get?N
The rookie player filled 2 boxes with 7 basketballs each, then found 11 more basketballs. How many basketballs are there in all?E
The rookie player collected 180 wristbands in the morning and 148 wristbands in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 the Hoop Stars. How many wristbands did each get?O
The rookie player earned 3 towels in each of 4 rounds, plus 70 bonus towels. Then 12 towels were lost. How many towels are left?A
The rookie player earned 5 towels in each of 2 rounds, plus 70 bonus towels. Then 5 towels were lost. How many towels are left?R
The rookie player collected 7 sneakers in the morning and 5 sneakers in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 the Hoop Stars. How many sneakers did each get?G
There were 294 towels in all. 2 the Hoop Stars used 21 towels each. The other 3 the Hoop Stars shared the rest equally. How many towels did each of the other the Hoop Stars get?H
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The team trainer wants to split the sports drinks evenly among the active players. Divide the drinks to find the final clue!
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
120 ÷ 12 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
60 ÷ 5 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
110 ÷ 10 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain spin past the defense, then zoom past on turbo foam cushions.
2.The villain sink a step back three, then float up with air cushion soles.
3.The villain sink a step back three, then dash off with sticky sole grip.
4.The villain spin past the defense, then float up with air cushion soles.
5.The villain spin past the defense, then dash off with sticky sole grip.
6.The villain do a killer crossover, then float up with air cushion soles.
7.The villain spin past the defense, then bounce away using spring heels.
8.The villain fake a flashy sky hook, then zoom past on turbo foam cushions.
9.The villain sink a step back three, then bounce away using spring heels.
10.The villain fake a flashy sky hook, then bounce away using spring heels.
11.The villain fake a flashy sky hook, then slide out in glow laces.
12.The villain do a killer crossover, then zoom past on turbo foam cushions.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Championship Ball Caper
Culprit: LeBron James (Step Back Three · Sticky Sole Grip · Right Handed Shooter · Neon Green Headband · Always Ball Hogging)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE GLOW IN DARK LACES"4267 + 2928 = 7195 (T) · 4560 + 3262 = 7822 (L) · 2055 + 4529 = 6584 (K) · 6622 + 3186 = 9808 (I) · 3182 + 2266 = 5448 (A) · 906 + 1176 = 2082 (D) · 3753 + 2349 = 6102 (E) · 4735 + 3930 = 8665 (W) · 1700 + 1757 = 3457 (S) · 872 + 1481 = 2353 (C) · 3005 + 5998 = 9003 (H) · 1749 + 969 = 2718 (N) · 3582 + 2908 = 6490 (R) · 1378 + 2256 = 3634 (G) · 1754 + 3985 = 5739 (B) · 3680 + 2374 = 6054 (U) · 2857 + 4372 = 7229 (O)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF SHOT THE BALL WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"7427 - 3301 = 4126 (T) · 8365 - 3779 = 4586 (D) · 8487 - 4105 = 4382 (O) · 11236 - 3443 = 7793 (S) · 9293 - 1241 = 8052 (L) · 9392 - 3468 = 5924 (W) · 9444 - 1247 = 8197 (N) · 5161 - 1753 = 3408 (F) · 12093 - 3259 = 8834 (I) · 10731 - 4906 = 5825 (R) · 12832 - 4094 = 8738 (A) · 10694 - 3930 = 6764 (H) · 2750 - 1603 = 1147 (G) · 9437 - 1581 = 7856 (E) · 5472 - 2999 = 2473 (B)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE PLAYERS NOTICED THEM BALL HOGGING A LOT"6 × 9 = 54 (T) · 4 × 11 = 44 (E) · 1 × 4 = 4 (M) · 7 × 8 = 56 (C) · 5 × 5 = 25 (Y) · 8 × 8 = 64 (N) · 6 × 4 = 24 (B) · 10 × 2 = 20 (O) · 4 × 7 = 28 (S) · 12 × 8 = 96 (D) · 1 × 11 = 11 (G) · 10 × 10 = 100 (A) · 6 × 10 = 60 (L) · 9 × 7 = 63 (P) · 7 × 10 = 70 (I) · 5 × 6 = 30 (R) · 11 × 8 = 88 (H)
- Clue 4 (Multi-step word problems): "NEON GREEN HEADBAND"There were 304 towels in all. 2 the Hoop Stars used 27 towels each. The other 5 the Hoop Stars shared the rest equally. How many towels did each of the other the Hoop Stars get? = 50 (N) · The rookie player filled 2 boxes with 7 basketballs each, then found 11 more basketballs. How many basketballs are there in all? = 25 (E) · The rookie player collected 180 wristbands in the morning and 148 wristbands in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 the Hoop Stars. How many wristbands did each get? = 82 (O) · The rookie player earned 3 towels in each of 4 rounds, plus 70 bonus towels. Then 12 towels were lost. How many towels are left? = 70 (A) · The rookie player earned 5 towels in each of 2 rounds, plus 70 bonus towels. Then 5 towels were lost. How many towels are left? = 75 (R) · The rookie player collected 7 sneakers in the morning and 5 sneakers in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 the Hoop Stars. How many sneakers did each get? = 6 (G) · There were 294 towels in all. 2 the Hoop Stars used 21 towels each. The other 3 the Hoop Stars shared the rest equally. How many towels did each of the other the Hoop Stars get? = 84 (H)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → LeBron James120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 110 ÷ 10 = 11 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Multi-step word problems, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Championship Ball Caper — set in the bustling court of the Hoop City Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects