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Lakers start Vincent for LeBron in opener preview

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Lakers start Vincent for LeBron in opener preview


LOS ANGELES — Using Friday’s preseason finale as a “dress rehearsal” for next week’s regular-season opener, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick put Gabe Vincent in the starting lineup to fill in for the injured LeBron James.

Vincent capped a strong individual training camp with 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting (4-for-5 from 3), but the Lakers lost 117-116 to the Sacramento Kings to finish the preseason 1-5.

The regular season starts Tuesday night when the Lakers host the Golden State Warriors. Though the Vincent decision was made, there is plenty more for the Lakers to figure out in the next few days.

“We have two more practices, so we need to clean up some things,” said Luka Doncic, who scored a game-high 31 points to go with nine assists in 33 minutes.

Vincent said the coaching staff informed him about the lineup change Friday morning. If the staff was uncertain about the choice, Vincent helped his cause in the Lakers’ preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday when he scored 18 points in the first four minutes, going 5-for-5 from 3.

“I think I just bring what I’ve been doing since I’ve been here,” Vincent said when asked about his fit with the starters. “Just defending, try to defend at a high level. Playmake when I have opportunities, space the floor while Luka and [Austin Reaves] are creating themselves.”

James is not expected to return to the lineup until mid-November, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania, as he continues to recover from sciatica affecting the right side of his body.

Though Vincent will join Doncic, Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura on the court to tip off the 2025-26 season, Redick made it clear that the current starters are not permanent.

“I don’t know anything about who I’m going to be starting the rest of the season because, again, there’s injuries and there’s things that happen throughout a year,” Redick said. “I have a pretty good idea who’s going to start Game 1. After that, I don’t know. But I do think in that lineup there’s lot of shooting around Luka and DA, and Gabe is another ball handler, another tough defender.

“I think he fits in well, but you have to take a look at every matchup we play against and have to make a decision there.”

Redick has downplayed the magnitude of his starting lineup decision repeatedly during training camp, pointing out that he used 25 starting lineups last season.

He and his team sounded far more concerned about their defense after allowing 59 second-half points to a Kings team that shot 54.7% overall and 44.8% from 3.

“I think in practice we were more physical,” Doncic said. “We need to work on our physicality.”

The Lakers were without one of their more physical defenders in center Jaxson Hayes for the second half Friday. He left the game because of a right wrist contusion after finishing a lob dunk in the first quarter. Redick said X-rays on Hayes’ wrist were negative, and the Lakers will have a further update on Hayes when they practice Sunday.

Former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, who had 14 points and four steals off the bench against Sacramento, vowed to help with the physicality in the meantime.

“Just follow my lead,” Smart said. “That’s really it. I’m going to try to set the tone each and every night. And just kind of piggyback off me.”



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Arne Slot ‘understands’ Liverpool fans’ boos after Burnley draw

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Arne Slot ‘understands’ Liverpool fans’ boos after Burnley draw


LIVERPOOL, England — Arne Slot said he “completely understands” the frustration of the Liverpool fans who booed the team following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley in the Premier League.

Florian Wirtz gave the hosts the lead at Anfield before Marcus Edwards levelled the scoring in the second half.

The result means Liverpool have now failed to beat any of the league’s three newly promoted sides at Anfield this term, with just one win in their last four league games. While they remain fourth in the table, they are now just one point above fifth-placed Manchester United.

“Yeah, in my head it wasn’t booing but in my head it was frustration as well,” Slot said when asked about the reaction of the Anfield crowd.

“So if we are Liverpool and we play against Burnley, who we have to give credit to for defending, clearing balls off the line, all the things you want to see if you are the Burnley manager, trying everything to prevent us scoring.

“But if you, as Liverpool, are not disappointed by having a draw at home to Burnley, then something is completely wrong. I completely understand the frustration. I have the same frustrations, and the players definitely have the same frustrations, as the fans.”

Saturday’s result was the third time Liverpool have dropped points from winning positions in the Premier League this season. It came despite Slot’s side registering 32 shots at goal, including 11 on target, and an expected goals (xG) total of 2.95 — their highest in the league this season.

Liverpool also had 73% of possession against a Burnley side languishing in 19th position with just 14 points from 22 games.

Slot added: “It’s not for the first time, it is usually frustrating. They come in different fashions. Sometimes it is that we are scoring a goal in stoppage time and you expect to win the game and then you concede another goal in stoppage time.

“I think these games we have played quite a lot [nine in 19 from September to November] — where we are the team creating more than the team we face — but then we were losing those games.

“Then we have started to become a team that was a bit more careful in conceding chances, and that led to the fact that it made it also more difficult to create a lot.

“As a result of that, we have been in a lot of games where we haven’t lost, and I think today was a game where I liked seeing us have even more possession than we would usually have, generating a lot of chances, and usually that comes with, if you take more risk, it comes with the other team counterattacking you, but we controlled that really well.”

Information from ESPN Research was used in this report.



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Indiana’s Curt Cignetti shuts down NFL coaching speculation: ‘I’ve always been more of a college football guy’

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Indiana’s Curt Cignetti shuts down NFL coaching speculation: ‘I’ve always been more of a college football guy’


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Nine NFL teams entered the offseason looking to fill their head coaching vacancies, and while some believe Indiana coach Curt Cignetti would be a strong fit for several of those openings, he sees it differently. 

Speaking to the media on Saturday ahead of the College Football Playoff national championship game in Miami, Cignetti shut down speculation of having any interest in making a leap to the NFL. 

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti speaks during media day ahead of the College Football Playoff national championship game between the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana. The game will be played Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

“I made that decision a long time ago now,” Cignetti said, via CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello. “Chuck Amato, NC State, in 2000. I had a chance to go with the [Green Bay] Packers. Tommy Rossley, Mike Sherman, [Brett] Favre was in his heyday. I declined the opportunity. I almost took it. That’s when I made the final decision.”

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“I’ve always been more of a college football guy.”

Cignetti has had several coaching stints in college football but has never crossed into the NFL. His most notable – prior to his success at Indiana – was during his five seasons at James Madison, where he led the Dukes to three conference titles and an FCS national championship appearance. He left for Indiana with a 52-9 record. 

Curt Cignetti peach bowl

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti walks on the field before the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal against Oregon in Atlanta, Georgia, on Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Cignetti’s remarks come amid speculation that Las Vegas could be a potential fit, as Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza will likely be taken by the Raiders with the first overall pick in April’s draft. 

GOVERNORS BRAUN, DESANTIS PLACE ‘FRIENDLY WAGER’ FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BETWEEN MIAMI AND INDIANA

With those rumors settled, Cignetti’s and Mendoza’s focus can return to Monday’s title game against Miami. 

The Hoosiers have gone 26-2 over the last two seasons under Cignetti and only Miami stands between them and the program’s first national championship.

Fernando Mendoza throws a pass

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws a pass as the Oregon Ducks face the Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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The CFP national championship game will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





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Sources: Inter Miami eyeing $15M move for Monterrey’s Berterame

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Sources: Inter Miami eyeing M move for Monterrey’s Berterame


Inter Miami CF has expressed interest in signing Rayados de Monterrey and Mexico national team forward Germán Berterame, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday, with both clubs confirming a deal was in the works.

The MLS team would be willing to pay the player’s release clause to complete the transfer, sources revealed. Mexican outlets reported Berterame’s release clause to be valued at $15 million.

A deal between Inter Miami and Rayados for Berterame has not been finalized yet, but both Monterrey sporting director Jose Antonio Noreiga and Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas have confirmed ESPN’s story.

“I can tell you and confirm that there has been an approach [from Inter Miami] and a proposal that is interesting to Berterame,” Noreiga said.

“It interests Germán, and it could be interesting for us. If we decide that the offer is interesting and that Germán leaves, we will do everything possible and we are already working on it to replace him.”

Berterame started for Rayados on Friday night and scored a goal in his team’s 5-1 thrashing of Mazatlán FC.

“Well, first of all, Germán Berterame is a great player,” Inter Miami co-owner Mas said. “He’s a great player, and we’re aiming to have a great squad

“I know I confirmed this morning that there’s an offer from Inter Miami. There is an offer from Inter Miami for Germán Berterame, we’ll see how that develops in the next 24 to 36 hours. But once again, I say, we’re aiming to have an extraordinary squad, to give [Javier] Mascherano the tools to attack technically as he sees fit, a lineup that can be strong, and that’s the kind of quality player who deserves to be part of the Inter Miami squad.”

Mas also commented on Miami’s interest in Vancouver Whitecaps and United States defender Tristan Blackmon, confirming that Miami made a bid for the reigning MLS Defender of the Year but that “for now we consider that matter closed.”

ESPN reported that Blackmon failed to show up for a scheduled physical with the Whitecaps on Wednesday in the wake of Vancouver rejecting a cash transfer offer worth $3 million from Miami. However, the 29-year-old subsequently reported to the Whitecaps camp the following day.

Negotiations appear to be progressing smoother for Berterame.

Before Rayados, Berterame featured for Argentine sides San Lorenzo and Patronato before making his Liga MX debut with Atletico San Luis in 2019. While playing for Atletico San Luis, the forward scored 31 goals in 93 games in all competitions and earned the Golden Boot for the 2021 Apertura tournament.

Berterame then joined Rayados in 2022, where he has recorded 67 goals and 15 assists in 152 games across all competitions.

His efforts in Liga MX earned him recognition from the Mexican national team, after becoming eligible to feature for El Tricolor by completing the country’s naturalization process.

Though Berterame previously featured for the Argentina youth national team, his lack of appearances with the senior squad allowed for the forward to represent Mexico without needing to file a FIFA one time switch.

Other MLS teams previously expressed interest in Berterame. FC Cincinnati attempted to trigger the player’s previous release clause, but the two parties failed to come to an agreement to complete the transfer.

Information from ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle contributed to this report.



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