Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle was a tough one. Hope you know your former basketball team names! If you’re struggling with the puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group hint: Get off my lawn!

Green group hint: Mile-High City sports.

Blue group hint: Shoes on your feet.

Purple group hint: Hoops teams of the past.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Grounds crew equipment.

Green group: Denver teams.

Blue group: Famous classic basketball sneakers.

Purple group: Former NBA team names, minus the S.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is grounds crew equipment.

The four answers are drag mat, mower, rake and tarp.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is Denver teams.

The four answers are Avalanche, Broncos, Nuggets and Summit.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is famous classic basketball sneakers.

The four answers are Air Jordan, Pump, Question and Weapon.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is former NBA team names, minus the S.

The four answers are Bobcat, Chaparral, Royal and Supersonic.

Toughest Connections: Sports Edition categories

The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be tough, but it really depends on which sports you know the most about. My husband aces anything having to do with Formula 1, my best friend is a hockey buff, and I can answer any question about Minnesota teams.

That said, it’s hard to pick the toughest Connections categories, but here are some I found exceptionally mind-blowing.

#1: Serie A Clubs. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.

#2: WNBA MVPs. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.

#3: Premier League team nicknames. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.

#4: Homophones of NBA player names. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.

CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” She’s been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She’s Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.

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