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NYT Connections Sports Puzzle #657 — Answers & Solution
Sunday, July 12, 2026 · Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hard
🏆 NYT Connections Sports Puzzle #657 — Complete Answers
- 🟨 Yellow – AWARD: CUP, MEDAL, PLAQUE, TROPHY
- 🟩 Green – BASEBALL TACTICS: DELAYED STEAL, HIT AND RUN, SACRIFICE, SQUEEZE
- 🟦 Blue – USED DURING A TIMEOUT: CHAIR, DRY ERASE BOARD, TOWEL, WATER BOTTLE
- 🟪 Purple – HOMOPHONES OF CELTICS ALL-TIME GREATS: ALAN, BURRED, KOOZIE, PERISH
📋 All 16 Words — Puzzle #657
✅ Full Answers — Puzzle #657
🟨 Yellow — AWARD
🟩 Green — BASEBALL TACTICS
🟦 Blue — USED DURING A TIMEOUT
🟪 Purple — HOMOPHONES OF CELTICS ALL-TIME GREATS
🔍 Detailed Breakdown
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — AWARD
The easiest category in Sports Puzzle #657 is "AWARD". The four words are:
- CUP
- MEDAL
- PLAQUE
- TROPHY
🟩 Green (Medium) — BASEBALL TACTICS
The medium category in Sports Puzzle #657 is "BASEBALL TACTICS". The four words are:
- DELAYED STEAL
- HIT AND RUN
- SACRIFICE
- SQUEEZE
🟦 Blue (Hard) — USED DURING A TIMEOUT
The hard category in Sports Puzzle #657 is "USED DURING A TIMEOUT". The four words are:
- CHAIR
- DRY ERASE BOARD
- TOWEL
- WATER BOTTLE
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — HOMOPHONES OF CELTICS ALL-TIME GREATS
The hardest category in Sports Puzzle #657 is "HOMOPHONES OF CELTICS ALL-TIME GREATS". The four words are:
- ALAN
- BURRED
- KOOZIE
- PERISH
🎯 Strategy Tips for Puzzle #657
Lock in the concrete nouns first by separating the structural awards (Yellow) from the physical huddle accessories (Blue). If you are left with a seemingly random assortment of words like BURRED and KOOZIE, try reading them aloud phonetically to spot the auditory tribute to Boston basketball icons Larry Bird and Bob Cousy!
⚠️ Red Herring Warning: Be careful with CUP. It could easily mislead players looking for objects used on the bench or sideline like a Water Bottle, rather than being grouped as a championship trophy. Additionally, words like SACRIFICE and SQUEEZE can sound like physical fitness drills or general verbs, drawing focus away from standard baseball diamond strategy.
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