Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition tip, answer for January 15 #114

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Today’s blue group Connections: Sports Edition may be one of the toughest categories I’ve ever encountered. Can even the biggest NBA fans remember this level of trivia? Read on for hints and answers to today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.

For now, the game is in beta, meaning the Times is testing it to see if it’s popular before adding it to the site’s games app. You can play it daily for free for now — and then we’ll see if it lasts.

Read more: NYT has a connection game for sports fans. I tried it

Tips for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four tips for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group tip: 0-0 or 2-2

Green group tip: A form of play

Blue group tip: Hot NBA Prospects 20 Years Ago

Purple group tip: Hemsworth or Rock

Answers to today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Bound

Green group: Synonyms for game

Blue group: Top Four Picks in the LeBron Draft (2003)

Purple group: Chris ____

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here are the most popular letters used in English words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is tied. The four answers are drawn, even, even and level.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is synonymous with games. The four answers are competition, showdown, match and draw.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is the top four picks in the LeBron draft (2003). The four answers are Anthony, Bosh, James and Milicic.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The subject is Chris ____. The four answers are Evert, Godwin, Paul and Pronger.