Today’s NIT Connections: Sports Edition Tips, Answers for Dec. 11, #79

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Attachments: Sports edition is a fun challenge every day. I do better with certain subjects than others. Today I was intrigued by the purple category, which is legendarily weird and sometimes a real break. I began to see a connection between the three words — and there is a clue. But I was stuck for the fourth word. Here’s a big hint: Have you ever hit three shots in a row? Did you know there’s a name for that expression, and a bit of a weird one? If you can find that term in the puzzle, you have a purple category.

Read more: NIT has a link game for sports lovers. I tried it

Tips for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four grouping hints in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the difficult (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Skate to win.

Green group advice: Light the torch.

Blue Group Tip: He’s coming home.

Purple Group Tip: Not one or two, but…

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Hockey statistics.

Green Group: Summer Olympic sports.

Blue group: The last four hosts of the Men’s World Cup.

Purple group: Events or performances involving three of something.

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

What are today’s responses to Connections: Sports Edition?

Yellow words in today’s Connections

The topic is hockey statistics. The four answers are assists, goals, plus/minus and defense.

Green words in today’s Connections

The topic is summer Olympic sports. The four answers are fencing, golf, handball and rowing.

Blue words in today’s Connections

The topic is the last four hosts of the Men’s World Cup. The four answers are Brazil, Qatar, Russia and South Africa.

Purple words in today’s Connections

Themes are events or performances that involve three things. The four answers are hat trick, strikeout, triathlon and turkey.