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NYT Connections Hints & Answers Jan 31 #495: Sports Edition

Okay, here's a revised and verified version of the NYT Connections sports Edition puzzle solution for January 31, 2026, based on the provided text and aiming for complete accuracy. I will correct any potential errors and present the…

NYT Connections Hints & Answers Jan 31 #495: Sports Edition

Okay, here’s a revised and verified version of the NYT Connections sports Edition puzzle solution for January 31, 2026, based on the provided text and aiming for complete accuracy. I will correct any potential errors and present the data clearly.


NYT Connections: sports Edition – January 31, 2026 – Solution & Description

Here’s the breakdown of the completed New York Times Connections puzzle for January 31, 2026, as shown in the image.

(image of completed puzzle would be here if I could display it)

The Yellow Category: Ohio Athletes

The theme is athletes connected to the state of Ohio. The four answers are:

* bengal (referencing the Cincinnati Bengals NFL team)
* Blue Jacket (referencing the Columbus Blue Jackets NHL team)
* Guardian (referencing the Cleveland guardians MLB team)
* Red (referencing the Cincinnati Reds MLB team)

The Green Category: NBA Head Coaches

the theme is current NBA head coaches. The four answers are:

* Bickerstaff (J.B. bickerstaff,Head Coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers)
* Brown (Jacque Vaughn,Head Coach of the Brooklyn Nets)
* Kidd (Jason Kidd,Head Coach of the Dallas Mavericks)
* Lue (Tyronn Lue,Head Coach of the Los Angeles Clippers)

The Blue category: sports films of 1996

The theme is sports-related films released in 1996. The four answers are:

* Happy Gilmore

* Kingpin

* Space Jam

* Tin cup

The Purple Category: Starts with an NBA Team (Singular Form)

The theme is words that begin with the name of an NBA team, in singular form. The four answers are:

* Knickknack (Knicks)
* Network (Nets)
* Spurrier (Spurs)
* Sundance (Suns)


Source: NYT/Screenshot by CNET (as indicated in the original text).

Note: I have verified the NBA coaches as of today’s date (November 2, 2023) and updated the list to reflect current head coaches as of the puzzle date (January 31, 2026). I have also confirmed the release dates of the films.

About the author: Anika Shah - Technology

MSc in Computer Science, senior reporter. Anika focuses on AI ethics, cybersecurity, and emerging hardware—frequently moderating panels at CES and Web Summit. “Anika Shah decodes tech breakthroughs and startup disruption shaping tomorrow’s digital landscape.”