IT General

TL;DR: Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's obviously really difficult to win the NBA, but it's arguably much harder to defend your title. Everyone is going to up their game against the champions, which is the challenge facing the supremely talented Oklahoma City Thunder. And they're facing that challenge with ease so far, racking up early-season wins and making a huge statement of intent. Next up they face the New Orleans Pelicans, a team struggling to win anything this year.

If you want to watch Thunder vs. Pelicans in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Thunder vs. Pelicans?

Thunder vs. Pelicans in the NBA starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 2. This game takes place at the Paycom Center.

How to watch Thunder vs. Pelicans for free

Thunder vs. Pelicans in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A stuffed animal.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

TEDDY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

The sound a bird makes.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHIRP

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To pull.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

HEAVE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A nickname for a father.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

DADDY

Final Hurdle hint

Perspective.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

ANGLE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The Full Moon is just around the corner, so there's plenty of things to spot on the surface, with or without visual aids.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Nov. 2, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. There will be 87% of the moon lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Even without any visual aids, there’s plenty to spot tonight, including the Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Imbrium, and the Kepler Crater. With a pair of binoculars, you can make out the Gassendi Crater, the Apennine Mountains, and the Mare Nectaris. If you have a telescope, pull it out to see the Rima Ariadaeus, the Apollo 15, and the Gruithuisen Domes.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the moon moves through its phases as it completes a 29.5-day orbit around Earth. The phases we see are caused by the changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. From Earth, the moon can appear full, partly lit, or seem to disappear entirely, but it’s always the same side facing us. What changes is how much sunlight reflects off its surface, depending on where it is in orbit. This pattern is known as the lunar cycle.

The eight main moon phases are:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're into astrology.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 24, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: A shipment

• Green: Bronze tones

• Blue: What one might do after exercising

• Purple: Astrological

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Goods to be transported

• Green: Light brown shades

• Blue: Show signs of physical exertion

• Purple: Starts of zodiac signs

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #875 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Goods to be transported: CARGO, FREIGHT, HAUL, LOAD

• Light brown shades: CAMEL, FAWN, KHAKI, TAN

• Show signs of physical exertion: CRAMP, PANT, REDDEN, SWEAT

• Starts of zodiac signs: AQUA, CAPRI, GEM, SAG

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 24, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're always a fanatic.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 24, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 17, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Extreme.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

RABID

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 24, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 1, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 1, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this light blue space must add to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this orange space must add to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this red space must add to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this light blue space must be greater than 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is simple if you know racket sports.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Swing and a hit

• Green: Improve

• Blue: Halfbacks

• Purple: Types of golf

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Racket Sports

• Green: Prosper

• Blue: Current NFL Running Backs

• Purple: ____Golf

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #405 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Racket Sports - BADMINTON, RACQUETBALL, SQUASH, TENNIS

• Prosper - BLOSSOM, DEVELOP, FLOURISH, GROW

• Current NFL Running Backs - COOK, HALL, SWIFT, WALKER

• ____Golf - DISC, LINKS, MINI, TOP

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

TL;DR: Save big on a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, now just $39.97 (reg. $219.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $39.97
$219.99 Save $180.02   Get Deal

These days, we’re all multitaskers. One minute we’re working on our family budget, the next we’re helping a kid finish a school project, and in between we’re answering work emails. If you’re looking for apps that can keep up with your daily demands, look no further than Microsoft Office.

Right now, you can score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for only $39.97 (reg. $219.99).

SEE ALSO: Make your year-end workload easier with this $20 Microsoft Office license

Though you may recognize the name Microsoft Office, this suite of powerful tools is updated for today’s world. This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license includes eight power-packed apps ready to help you tackle even the lengthiest to-do list, and they’re available for less than $7 each with this deal.

Curious what this suite of apps can help with? Draft documents with Word, create a killer presentation with PowerPoint, and get your finances in order with Excel. Outlook makes it easy to manage your emails, and Teams keeps you connected to coworkers. There’s also OneNote, an easy digital notetaking method, and Access to help you manage databases.

If the edition’s year raises concerns, don’t worry. These apps have been redesigned to be powerful for everyone, from data analysts to designers. A ribbon-based user interface provides quick access to all available features, tools, and customizations.

Make sure you’re running Windows 10 or 11 before purchase. You’ll receive instant delivery and download, so you’ll have constant access to the apps with no need to connect to the cloud.

Outfit your PC with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, now for only $39.97 (reg. $219.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, meaning Microsoft stopped releasing updates for it. Microsoft ending support usually means that, before long, various apps and services will stop supporting the operating system in question as well. So when will Steam stop working on Windows 10?

The benefits of using a VPN to browse securely and privately on your laptop or PC are well known. But if you spend more time using the internet on your phone, shouldn't you have a VPN installed on that too? Here are the reasons why you should, as well as some of the downsides that you need to know about.

Most of us use the Photos app to view, rotate, or crop pictures, not realizing it’s evolved into a tool that offers much more than basic editing. If you think of it as just a simple image viewer, it’s time to take another look—its latest features now rival those offered by third-party photo apps.

If you use the terminal a lot, you can probably understand the frequent pain of typing out long commands. Bash's tab completion is ineffective, file paths are tedious to write, and typos are a persistent annoyance. I have three good reasons why Zsh addresses these and boosts your terminal workflow.

Google Maps has a neat little feature that lets you download entire regions or areas onto your device for offline use. These offline maps work just like normal maps—you can look up locations, ask directions for driving, and use the route navigator. Let me show you how you can set it up in advance for your next trip.

Gboard is the default keyboard on most Android devices and packs several nifty features. However, its deep integration with Google services raises concerns about privacy for many users. If you're in the same boat, you can switch to one of the several open-source keyboards available out there that offer similar functionality to Gboard without compromising your privacy.

While both Google Messages and Apple iMessage are unique in their own ways, I feel that Apple iMessage has a slight edge over Google Messages when it comes to the features they both offer. If Google Messages wants to lead the messaging app race, it needs to steal these seven features from Apple's iMessage.

The best Mac VPNs help you stream geo-blocked content on streaming platforms and secure your connection. In this guide, we help you find the best VPN for Mac based on feature set and performance.

If you're traveling somewhere with patchy mobile network coverage or want to cut your data costs, Google Maps can still guide you. You just need to plan ahead. Here's how to download maps for offline use, what cached maps can do in a pinch, and what it's like to use Google Maps without an internet connection.

TL;DR: Live stream Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Internationals for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Autumn Internationals are gaining a reputation for producing some of the best matchups outside of the World Cup. When else would you get to see huge contests like Ireland vs. New Zealand?

And this hotly-anticipated game is extra special as it takes place in Chicago. The last time these sides met at Soldier Field was back in 2016, with Ireland producing a stunning display to beat the All Blacks 40-29. That was the first time Ireland had ever beaten the All Blacks. They've fared much better since then, but any matchup with the All Blacks is always incredibly tough.

If you want to watch Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Internationals from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ireland vs. New Zealand?

Ireland vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Autumn Internationals kicks off at 8:10 p.m. GMT on Nov. 1. This fixture takes place at Soldier Field.

How to watch Ireland vs. New Zealand for free

Ireland vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Autumn Internationals is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Autumn Internationals for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ireland vs. New Zealand for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Ireland vs. New Zealand for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Autumn Internationals without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream all of Ireland's Autumn Internationals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Internationals for free with ExpressVPN.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is simple if you've played video games.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Amateur global sports

• Green: Games played with friends

• Blue: I like Lamar, but there's something about this guy

• Purple: Not spelled like you think it is

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Summer Olympic Sports

• Green: Football Video Games

• Blue: Associated with Joe Flacco

• Purple: Contains A Double I

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #404 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Summer Olympic Sports - SAILING, SOCCER, SPORT CLIMBING, SWIMMING

• Football Video Games - BACKYARD FOOTBALL, MADDEN, NFL BLITZ, TECMO BOWL

• Associated with Joe Flacco - DELAWARE, ELITE, RAVENS, SUPER BOWL MVP

• Contains A Double I - EMBIID, HAWAII, SKIING, WII SPORTS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

If you're working with a large amount of data in your Bash scripts, arrays will make your life a lot easier. Some people get intimidated by the syntax. But once learned, it will make your scripts more powerful, with fewer variables to think about.