Archive January 27, 2026

Luka Doncic put on another scoring masterclass with 46 points as the Los Angeles Lakers claimed a 129-118 victory at the Chicago Bulls.

The Slovenia guard’s haul included eight three-pointers, and he also registered seven rebounds and 12 assists at the United Center to end the Bulls’ four-game unbeaten run.

Doncic becomes the quickest Laker to reach 2,000 points – achieving the feat in his 65th game since he was traded by the Dallas Mavericks last February.

It was the fourth match in a row that the 26-year-old has finished with more than 30 points and he tops the NBA scoring charts with an average of 33.8 points per game.

He joins Kobe Bryant as the only players in Lakers history with at least 45 points, 10 assists and five three-pointers in a single game.

LeBron James added 24 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Lakers with Rui Hachimura hitting 23 points off the bench.

Despite Doncic’s achievements, Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted after the game that the superstar still gives him some anxious moments on the sidelines.

“He’s an engine that’s fully on and he likes to create out there and that’s part of what makes him a great player,” he said.

“Because I played with him, I have a pretty good understanding of that – not to say it doesn’t test your patience at times.

Paris St-Germain have signed 18-year-old Barcelona midfielder Dro Fernandez, with the Spanish side’s president calling the situation around the transfer “unpleasant”.

According to Spanish media, PSG have paid 8.2m euros (£7.1m) for Fernandez – a fee that is higher than his 6m euros (£5.2m) release clause – in a bid to keep good relations between the clubs.

The Spanish midfielder’s departure has been controversial as he had been expected to sign a new contract at Barcelona.

But he has now completed a move to PSG on a deal until 2030.

“It has been an unpleasant situation,” Barca president Joan Laporta told Catalunya Radio.

“It came as a surprise because we had agreed on a different solution for when he turned 18.

“Surprisingly, his representative told us he couldn’t follow through on what we’d agreed to.”

PSG said the signing was “fully in line with the club’s sporting strategy, which is heavily focused on youth and talent”.

Fernandez said his move was a “moment of huge pride” and PSG was “a massive club that I’ve followed since I was a child and where some great legends have made history”.

In a separate post on Instagram, he wrote: “After nearly four unforgettable seasons, today I have to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life: saying goodbye to the club that has been my home in recent years.”

Asked about Fernandez’s future earlier this month, Barca coach Hansi Flick said young players needed to “live for” the club and suggested the teenager would be making a mistake if he moved to France.

“We give them the opportunity to train with us, to grow, every day, with the best players in the world. We give them the opportunity, we give them the support, believe in them, the confidence,” he said.

“If you want to play for Barca, then [do it] 100% with your whole heart.

“This is what I want to say to everyone who is now with us, or in the future with us, this must be 100%.

“These colours, you have to live for them, this is what I want to see. All the others I don’t want, this is what I can say.

Captain Caelan Doris says Ireland are determined to atone for a disappointing end to last year’s Six Nations, starting with next week’s tournament opener against holders France.

Ireland beat England, Scotland and Wales to secure the 2025 Triple Crown before their bid for a third successive title fell apart in a hugely demoralising 42-27 loss to France in Dublin.

While Ireland endured a mixed autumn campaign that included losses to New Zealand and South Africa, Doris says the squad are targeting a statement win over Les Bleus in the Thursday night curtain-raiser at Stade de France.

“The way the fixtures fell last year we obviously had the Triple Crown after three games and it was the last two games that let us down,” the 27-year-old Leinster back row told the BBC.

“We obviously won in Rome but the nature of the performance wasn’t where we would have liked it and having lost to France the week before, it left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth.

Doris, who has made 23 Six Nations appearances, will lead Ireland out against a France side shorn of some high-profile players.

While fit-again captain Antoine Dupont is back, head coach Fabien Galthie opted not to select France’s all-time top try-scorer Damian Penaud, veteran centre Gael Fickou and back row Gregory Alldritt, who skippered the side in Dupont’s absence last year.

Having faced Alldritt on several occasions for both club and country, Doris admits he was surprised by the 28-year-old’s omission.

“If you look at the Top 14 week in, week out, there’s so many quality players at the top level, they’ve got an abundance of talent to choose from,” added Doris.

“I was surprised Alldritt wasn’t in it. I obviously faced him and La Rochelle a few weeks ago. I rate him very highly but they’ve got quality across the back row and I’m sure [Anthony] Jelonch will represent the eight shirt very well.