‘I’m back’: Heat’s Butler starts in return from ban With his seven-game suspension over, Jimmy Butler returned to the Heat’s starting lineup Friday night against the Nuggets and addressed his future plans with a short statement: “I’m back.”

Thunder sit SGA vs. Mavs due to sore wrist Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is sitting out Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to a sore right wrist.

Marshall fined $100K, stands by call to skip bowl The Sun Belt fined Marshall $100,000 for opting out of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl even though its roster had been depleted to 41 players after coach Charles Huff’s exit and as many as 36 players entering the transfer portal.

EMU hoops games flagged for suspicious betting Betting integrity firms are investigating a Jan. 14 men’s college basketball game between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan, after multiple sportsbooks reported unusual wagering activity.

Titans hire longtime Chiefs exec Borgonzi as GM Former Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi has reached agreement on a five-year contract to become the Titans’ new general manager.

Ex-UFC middleweight champ Weidman retires Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is hanging up his gloves, announcing his retirement Friday.

Heat’s Butler to start, says of future, ‘I’m back’ With his seven-game suspension over, Jimmy Butler returned to the Heat’s starting lineup Friday night against the Nuggets and addressed his future plans with a short statement: “I’m back.”

Unrivaled’s opening night: Live updates, scores, highlights and more Unrivaled, the new women’s 3-on-3 pro basketball league, tips off Friday. We’re covering opening night in Miami.

Japanese star Sasaki says he’s joining Dodgers Roki Sasaki, the prized Japanese pitching prospect who has had scouts drooling over his potential since high school, has chosen the Los Angeles Dodgers as his major league team, he announced on Instagram on Friday.

Barkley questions Verse calling out Eagles fans Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley believes that Rams’ Jared Verse calling out Eagles fans was ‘probably not the smartest thing to say.’

Poch: U.S. needs arrogance to compete at ’26 WC United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino insists American players can compete with the likes of Spain and Argentina in terms of talent.

Jays add Straw, cash for Sasaki in Guardians deal The Blue Jays acquired $2 million in international signing bonus pool money and outfielder Myles Straw in a trade with the Guardians on Friday.

UF asst. to coach despite sex assault allegations Gators basketball coach Todd Golden, who remains the subject of a Title IX investigation himself, also ripped into a process that is supposed to be confidential.

Sources: Titans to hire Chiefs’ Borgonzi as GM The Titans plan to hire Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi to replace Ran Carthon as their next general manager.

Ravens WR Flowers (knee) doubtful to face Bills Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers is doubtful for the Ravens’ game Sunday in Buffalo. Flowers missed last week’s game with a right knee injury.

The moving inspiration behind Procházka shaving his head Jiří Procházka cut his signature “war braid” to show support for Ashly McGarity, a UFC fan who went viral last month as she began cancer chemotherapy.

UFC 311: Tsarukyan out, Moicano gets title shot The UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025 underwent a major change Friday, as lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan was forced out of Saturday’s UFC 311 with a back issue.

Is the NFL’s playoff format broken? Barnwell offers six fixes Add two teams? Go back to 12 teams? Let teams choose their opponents in the wild-card round?

‘Everybody is abundantly aware of it’: Why agencies packaging NFL coach/GM candidates is raising red flags The struggling Bears are among the teams with a pattern of hiring people with the same agent. The NFL has concerns about the implications.

Titans assistant will get early look at QB Sanders Titans offensive assistant Payton McCollum was selected to be a QB coach at the East-West Shrine Bowl and will work with Shedeur Sanders’ team.