**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Fans**
*Connections: Sports Edition* represents the newest iteration of the beloved [*New York Times* word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), crafted to challenge sports aficionados. Like its predecessor *Connections*, this version prompts players to uncover “common links among words.” Similar to *Wordle*, the game resets daily at midnight, with each new puzzle becoming increasingly complex. If you find yourself at an impasse, we provide hints and strategies to assist you—or you can jump to today’s solution at the conclusion of this article.
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### What Is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
In collaboration with *The Athletic*, its sports-centric outlet, the *New York Times* has introduced this sports-themed version of the daily word game. Accessible on both web browsers and mobile devices, *Connections: Sports Edition* challenges players to categorize four words that share a common theme.
Each puzzle is comprised of 16 words, arranged into four groups. These categories may include sports teams, positions, or even broader subjects like book titles or software. Though some words might appear applicable to multiple categories, each set has only one correct answer.
When players successfully identify a group of four related words, those words disappear from the board. Nonetheless, incorrect guesses tally as errors, and players are limited to four mistakes before the game concludes. To facilitate connections, players can reshuffle the board to enhance their spotting abilities.
The game incorporates a color-coded difficulty scale: yellow indicates the simplest group, followed by green, blue, and purple. Much like *Wordle*, players can share their results on social media to compare scores with friends.
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Hints
Looking for a little guidance? Here are some hints for today’s categories without disclosing the answers:
– **Yellow:** Thrill
– **Green:** Teams from southeast Texas
– **Blue:** NBA teams sharing a common trait
– **Purple:** Football roles
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
If you need additional assistance, here are the specific themes for today’s puzzle:
– **Yellow:** *Excitement*
– **Green:** *Houston sports franchises*
– **Blue:** *Teams Michael Jordan triumphed over in the NBA Finals*
– **Purple:** *_______ Back*
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Solution
Prepared for the answers? This is your final opportunity to solve the puzzle before we unveil the solutions. Drumroll, please!
Here’s the solution to today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* #82:
– **Excitement:** *ANTICIPATION, BALLYHOO, BUILDUP, BUZZ*
– **Houston sports franchises:** *COUGARS, DASH, DYNAMO, ROCKETS*
– **Teams Michael Jordan triumphed over in the NBA Finals:** *JAZZ, LAKERS, SUPERSONICS, TRAIL BLAZERS*
– **_______ Back:** *CORNER, DEFENSIVE, FULL, RUNNING*
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Don’t fret if you didn’t get it this time—there’s always tomorrow’s puzzle to anticipate! We’ll return with more hints and solutions to aid you in facing the next challenge.
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### Seeking More Games?
If you’re a puzzle enthusiast, explore Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and beyond. And if you’re also engaging with *NYT Strands*, [find today’s hints and answers here](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-december-14).
Missed yesterday’s *Connections*? [Locate the solution here](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-december-14).