As a native Minnesotan, I immediately spotted some of my hometown teams in today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle. (Win, Twins!) 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: Hoops, but not in the West.

Green group hint: Land of 10,000 lakes.

Blue group hint: Share the same first name.

Purple group hint: Amazon uses a lot of these.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Eastern Conference NBA teams.

Green group: Minnesota teams.

Blue group: Scotts.

Purple group: Box ____.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is Eastern Conference NBA teams.

The four answers are Hawks, Magic, Nets and Pistons.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is Minnesota teams.

The four answers are Frost, Timberwolves, Twins and Wild.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Scotts.

The four answers are McTominay, Niedermayer, Rolen and Van Pelt.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is box ____.

The four answers are and one, jump, lacrosse and score.

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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