Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Oct. 18 #390

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Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is fun. The blue group is especially easy once you get the hang of it – as long as you follow the NFL. If you’re having trouble but still want to resolve it, read on for tips and answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the Times-owned subscription sports journalism site. It does not appear in the NYT Games app but does appear in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it online for free.

Learn more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle exits beta

Tips for Connections Groups: Sports Today’s Edition

Here are four clues for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ordered from the easiest yellow group to the difficult (and sometimes weird) purple group.

Yellow group index: Before!

Green group index: Adjust to make it better.

Blue group index: Signalers with the same first name.

Purple group index: Hoops movie titles.

Connections Group Answers: Today’s Sports Edition

Yellow group: Golf clubs.

Green group: Refine.

Blue group: QB named Joe.

Purple group: Last words from basketball films.

Learn more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are the answers from today’s Connections: Sports Edition?

Yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is golf clubs. The four answers are driver, iron, putter and wedge.

Green words in today’s Connections

The theme is refined. The four answers are better, improve, polish and sharpen.

Blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is QBs named Joe. The four answers are Burrow, Flacco, Montana and Namath.

Purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is the last words of basketball movies. The four answers are Carter, Chips, Jump and Mike.