Today’s NYT Connections (Puzzle #969) for Wednesday, February 4, 2026, is a bit of a gamble—literally! The Green category focuses on games of luck, but don’t let that distract you from the trickier Purple category, which hides professional basketball teams inside longer words.
Whether you are stuck on the “Discord” red herring or trying to figure out what “Netscape” has to do with “Heat,” we have the full breakdown below.
Difficulty Level
Today’s puzzle is Moderate.
- Yellow & Green: Synonyms and examples that are relatively easy to spot if you don’t overthink them.
- Blue: Colloquialisms/Slang that might vary by region or age group.
- Purple: A “word within a word” category that requires spotting NBA team names at the start of seemingly unrelated words.
Hints for Today’s Groups
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here are the themes for each color-coded group:
- Yellow Group Hint: Synonyms for fighting, arguing, or general disagreement.
- Green Group Hint: Activities where the outcome depends on luck, not skill. (Think casinos or cards).
- Blue Group Hint: Slang terms or phrases used to say “approximately” or “roughly.”
- Purple Group Hint: Look at the beginning of these words to find a professional basketball team.
Spoilers Below!
Warning: The sections below contain the direct answers for today’s puzzle.
Yellow Group Answer
Theme: Contention
- CONFLICT
- DISCORD
- FRICTION
- RIVALRY
Green Group Answer
Theme: Games of Chance
- BINGO
- CRAPS
- LOTTERY
- WAR
Blue Group Answer
Theme: More or Less, Colloquially
- APPROX
- BOUT
- LIKE
- ROUND
Purple Group Answer
Theme: Starting with NBA Teams
- BULLSEYE (Bulls)
- HEATED (Heat)
- MAGICAL (Magic)
- NETSCAPE (Nets)
Puzzle Analysis
The Yellow group (“Contention”) has a potential trap: “Discord” and “Netscape” might make you think of a technology or internet theme. However, once you see “Conflict” and “Rivalry,” the true meaning of “Discord” becomes clear.
The Green group (“Games of Chance”) includes “War,” which is the simple card game played by children (and bored adults). It fits perfectly with “Bingo” and “Lottery.”
The Purple group (“Starting with NBA Teams”) is clever. “Netscape” is a particularly nostalgic word that hides the “Nets.” “Heated” hides the “Heat.” If you aren’t an NBA fan, this one might be the last group you solve by elimination.
How to Play Connections
If you are new to the daily challenge, here is the breakdown:
- Grid: You start with 16 words.
- Goal: Group them into four sets of four words that share a common theme.
- Mistakes: You have four lives. If you guess a group incorrectly, you lose a life.
- Colors: The groups are color-coded by difficulty:
- Yellow: Easiest
- Green: Medium
- Blue: Hard
- Purple: Tricky/Abstract
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the answer to the Purple group in Connections today?
The Purple group answers are BULLSEYE, HEATED, MAGICAL, and NETSCAPE. The theme is “Starting with NBA Teams.”
What connects Bingo, Craps, and War?
They are all Games of Chance.
When does the Connections puzzle reset?
The puzzle resets daily at midnight local time.
