The NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for November 5, 2026, is number 773. This edition presents a mix of geographical host sites, minor league mascots, and a deep dive into the career of one of the NBA’s most dominant players.
Hints for Today’s Connections: Sports Edition
If you are looking for a push in the right direction without the full solution, these progressive hints can help narrow down the categories.
General Category Hints
- Yellow: These locations are preparing for major international multi-sport events in the coming decade.
- Green: These mascots represent professional baseball teams playing just one tier below the Major Leagues.
- Blue: Every word in this group is a direct reference to a specific three-time NBA MVP.
- Purple: These are the surnames of people currently leading NHL teams, though their names often sound like common words or locations.
Stronger Clues
- Yellow: Think about the future of the Summer and Winter Games. One of these is in Australia; another is in Southern California.
- Green: If you follow the farm systems for the Padres, Tigers, Astros, or Orioles, these names will look familiar.
- Blue: This group focuses entirely on the Denver Nuggets’ center, including his nickname and home country.
- Purple: This is a tricky set of NHL head coaches. One shares a name with a Missouri city, and another sounds like a musical inspiration.
Spoiler Warning: The full solutions for today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle follow below.
Connections: Sports Edition Answers for November 5 (#773)
Here are the completed groups and the logic behind them for today’s puzzle.
Yellow: Future Olympic Hosts
- BRISBANE
- FRENCH ALPS
- LOS ANGELES
- UTAH
This category identifies the regions selected to host upcoming Olympic Games. Los Angeles is set for the 2028 Summer Olympics, followed by the French Alps for the 2030 Winter Games. Brisbane will host the 2032 Summer Olympics, while Utah (specifically Salt Lake City) is the site for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
Green: Triple-A Baseball Teams
- CHIHUAHUAS
- MUD HENS
- SPACE COWBOYS
- TIDES
These are the nicknames of teams in Triple-A baseball. Specifically, the El Paso Chihuahuas are the affiliate of the San Diego Padres, the Toledo Mud Hens are with the Detroit Tigers, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys belong to the Houston Astros, and the Norfolk Tides are the affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.
Blue: Associated with Nikola Jokić
- JOKER
- MVP
- NUGGETS
- SERBIA
This category focuses on the Denver Nuggets’ superstar Nikola Jokić. It includes his team, his primary nickname (The Joker), his home country of Serbia, and his status as a multi-time NBA MVP.
Purple: NHL Head Coaches
- BRUNETTE
- MAURICE
- MUSE
- ST. LOUIS
This final group features the surnames of prominent NHL head coaches: Andrew Brunette, Paul Maurice, Jim Muse, and Martin St. Louis. The puzzle uses misdirection here; while “helpers” is hockey slang for assists, these answers actually represent the individuals behind the bench.
