Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle was easier than most, I thought. I spotted the yellow one right away, and purple was much easier than usual. Read on for hints and the answers.

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group hint: Gimme that!

Green group hint: Go here, and get points.

Blue group hint: No one got a hit off them.

Purple group hint: Covers your face.

Read more: We Need to Talk About That One Doggone Connections Puzzle

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Deliver the ball to a teammate

Green group: Places where one scores.

Blue group: MLB pitchers to throw a perfect game.

Purple group: ____ mask.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is deliver the ball to a teammate.

The four answers are dish, distribute, give and pass.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is places where one scores.

The four answers are end zone, goal, hoop and plate.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is MLB pitchers to throw a perfect game.

The four answers are Browning, Cain, Cone and Larsen.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ mask.

The four answers are catcher’s, face, goalie and protective.

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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