Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle has a really crazy purple category. Hint: New Yorkers are still focused on their beloved NBA champs. 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: Athletes don’t want to do this.

Green group hint: Cold beer, here!

Blue group hint: Gymnastics stars.

Purple group hint: Sounds like a certain NY team.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Not winning.

Green group: Purchases at a game.

Blue group: Members of the “Magnificent Seven.”

Purple group: Ends in a homophone for Knicks.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is not winning.

The four answers are behind, down, losing and trailing.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is purchases at a game.

The four answers are concessions, parking, program and ticket.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is members of the “Magnificent Seven.”

The four answers are Chow, Dawes, Miller and Strug.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ends in a homophone for Knicks.

The four answers are beatniks, finicks, Penix and picnics.

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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