Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected from Wednesday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons at the 9-minute mark of the third quarter after a ferocious dunk that gave the Bucks a 73-60 lead.

After he came down from the dunk, Antetokounmpo stared at Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart and he was assessed the technical from official Scott Twardoski.

Antetokounmpo couldn’t believe the call and briefly sat down in a courtside seat before finally heading to the locker room. He then followed Twardoski briefly after the call looking for an explanation.

Antetokounmpo left Wednesday without speaking to the media, but his teammates didn’t believe he earned that second technical foul.

‘He made like a little face and he took off running and he didn’t say a word,’ Jae Crowder said. ‘I think that’s why he was so frustrated, like you really threw me out and I didn’t say anything?’

Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said he wasn’t given a reason for the second technical, but felt he should be more of a presence before it even gets to that point with Antetokounmpo.

“I think I just have to do a better job,’ Griffin said. ‘Giannis doesn’t complain to the refs. He’s really respectful to the refs and I think I’m letting him down in that sense. I think I need to be a little more, just vocal, during the games when he’s getting hit and kind of stick up for him a little bit better. I’ve been dropping the ball on that.’

The two-time league MVP earned his first technical foul with 3:47 to go in the second quarter away from the ball, as Detroit’s Cade Cunningham was called for a foul on Bucks point guard Damian Lillard.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo received a technical shortly after his brother left the court.

Prior to the technical fouls called on the Antetokounmpos, Stewart and Jae Crowder had been given double technicals for an off-ball foul by Stewart following a Bobby Portis basket. Brook Lopez had also been hit with a technical while arguing a foul call in the second quarter.

Joining Twardoski, the game’s umpire, on the officiating crew were crew chief Rodney Mott and referee Mitchell Ervin.

Mott explained Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ejection after the game.

‘After the dunk Giannis turns to his opponent and taunts him and a taunting technical foul was called, an unsportsmanlike,’ Mott told the pool reporter. ‘And he was ejected from the game, per rule, because two unsportsmanlike technical fouls, you are ejected from the game.’

Antetokounmpo finished his night with 15 points on 6 of 16 shooting. He also had nine rebounds and five assists. The Bucks squandered their lead without Antetokounmpo but finished strong down the stretch to rally to a 120-118 win.

How many times has Giannis Antetokounmpo been ejected?

It is the fourth career regular season ejection for Antetokounmpo and fifth overall:

April 30, 2015 vs. Chicago (playoff game)Jan. 28, 2016 vs. MemphisApril 1, 2018 at DenverAug. 11, 2020 vs. Washington (in the ‘bubble’)

Draft-eligible underclassmen will be allowed to participate in college all-star games, according to ESPN and NFL Media.

According to reports, the NFL informed its teams Wednesday in a memo signaling the significant change to the pre-draft schedule for 2024. The all-star games impacted by this decision include the East-West Shrine Bowl, Senior Bowl and HBCU Legacy Bowl. Previously, only seniors were allowed to compete at those events, though the Senior Bowl had allowed fourth-year juniors who completed their college degrees to participate in the event.

Previously, underclassmen eligible for the draft only had the NFL scouting combine, pro days and private workouts to demonstrate their abilities for teams and scouts. The all-star games add a new and important element to the pre-draft process for underclassmen prospects. On the flip side, allowing underclassmen could result in fewer fringe prospects and players from smaller colleges getting a look in the all-star game environment.

The top 10 projected picks in USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft are all underclassmen, a list that includes USC quarterback Caleb Williams, North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman.

Last year, there were 69 underclassmen players who were granted special eligibility for the draft.

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What is the pre-draft schedule for 2024?

Jan. 15 — Deadline for underclassmen to apply for special eligibilty for 2024 NFL draftFeb. 1 — East-West Shrine BowlFeb. 3 — Senior BowlFeb. 24 — HBCU Legacy BowlFeb. 27-March 4 — NFL scouting combine

When is the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 draft will be held April 25 (Round 1), April 26 (Rounds 2-3) and April 27 (Rounds 4-7).

Where will the 2024 NFL draft be held?

Which teams are in contention for the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft?

If the season today, the Arizona Cardinals would own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Here is the top 10 order heading into Week 10:

Arizona Cardinals (1-8)Chicago Bears, from Carolina Panthers (1-7)Chicago Bears (2-7)New York Giants (2-7)New England Patriots (2-7)Los Angeles Rams (3-6)Green Bay Packers (3-5)Denver Broncos (3-5)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)Tennessee Titans (3-5)

The Detroit Tigers said they wanted to be ambitious in their search for a new voice of the team. It’s safe to say, they’ve accomplished that.

The Tigers announced Thursday they have hired national broadcaster Jason Benetti as the new television play-by-play announcer on the Bally Sports Detroit broadcast, beginning in the 2024 season.

He signed a multi-year contract.

Benetti, who replaces Matt Shepard, has spent the past eight seasons with the Chicago White Sox. The 40-year-old will be employed by the Tigers, not Bally Sports Detroit.

The Tigers announced Benetti’s hire Thursday morning.

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‘I’m incredibly proud to join this historic and ascending Tigers franchise,’ Benetti said in a statement. ‘From every single person I talked with throughout the interview process it was clear why so many respected professionals and creative people have joined the organization in the last several years. There’s something special about it, and I’m excited to bring that energy to Tigers fans around the globe.’

Benetti will broadcast a minimum of 127 games per season for the Tigers. He still has national broadcast obligations. In the case of scheduling conflicts, radio play-by-play announcer Dan Dickerson will move to the TV booth when Benetti isn’t calling games.

Both Benetti and Dickerson want Tigers fans to have the best broadcast experience throughout the entire season. In Benetti and Dickerson, the Tigers have what could be described as the best TV and radio duo in baseball.

The Tigers posted a 78-84 record for second place in the American League Central — widely considered the weakest division — in the 2023 season. The first-place Minnesota Twins plan to cut payroll this offseason. The Tigers, if the young players perform to expectations, could compete for the AL Central title in 2024, even without a splashy free-agent signing.

Recently, Benetti met with CEO and chairman Christopher Ilitch and president of baseball operations Scott Harris.

‘Everyone I spent time with made it clear this was the right place for me,’ Benetti said. ‘I was born and raised in the Midwest and understand how important sports are, especially here in the Motor City.’

Benetti, diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a toddler, grew up in Homewood, Illinois, about 25 miles south of Chicago. He graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 2001.

He graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 2005 with bachelor’s degrees in journalism, economics and physiology. He also graduated from Wake Forest University’s School of Law in 2011 with a juris doctor degree.

In his career, Benetti has worked for ESPN, NBC and Fox, but he is now primarily contracted with Fox Sports for national assignments. He joined the White Sox as the TV play-by-play announcer on NBC Sports Chicago in the 2016 season for select home and road games. He handled full-time play-by-play duties in the 2019-23 seasons, following Ken Harrelson’s retirement.

The search and hiring processes were led by Ron Colangelo (Senior Vice President of Communications and Broadcasting, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment), Ben Fidelman (Director of Communications and Broadcasting, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment) and Jeff Byle (Executive Producer, Bally Sports Detroit).

‘Jason is a world-class talent and today is another tremendous step forward for the Tigers as we continue to build a championship-level organization and experience for our fans,’ Ryan Gustafson, EVP/COO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, said in a statement. ‘Beyond his talent, Jason’s story is an inspiration and our shared commitment to excellence and innovation was apparent throughout our discussions. We are thrilled to welcome Jason to our family.’

‘All of us at Bally Sports welcome Jason to Detroit, and we’re thrilled he’s joining our Tigers telecasts,’ Greg Hammaren, Bally Sports Detroit senior vice president and general manager, said in a statement. ‘Jason’s reputation as one of the best and brightest announcers across all of sports adds to our already strong production effort here in Detroit. His deep knowledge and love for baseball are traits shared by our incredible fans, and we’re looking forward to them getting to know Jason more starting in February when the Tigers take the field in Lakeland.’

With four of the top NFL teams about to enjoy their in-season week off, fantasy managers will be leaning even harder on players such as Bills QB Josh Allen and WR Stefon Diggs, who are tops at their positions this week.

ON BYE: Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams

Fantasy football rankings for Week 10 are based on the point-per-reception (PPR) scoring used in most seasonal and daily fantasy football formats. One point is awarded for every 10 rushing and receiving yards and one point for every 20 passing yards. Six points are awarded for touchdowns scored, four points for passing TDs and one point for receptions.

Rankings are compiled by Daniel Dobish, TheHuddle.com. 

(*-check status before kickoff)

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Fantasy football Week 10 quarterback rankings

Rookie C.J. Stroud is coming off his best game as a pro last week (470 yards, 5 TDs).The Cardinals officially added Kyler Murray to the roster on Tuesday. He’s expected to make his season debut vs. the Falcons.Sleeper pick: Geno Smith faces a Washington pass defense that’s allowing an NFL-high 20.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

Fantasy football Week 10 running back rankings

David Montgomery (ribs) hasn’t played since Week 6, but he’s been a full participant in practice this week. However, rookie Jahmyr Gibbs just ran for a career-high 152 yards and a touchdown in the lead back role in Week 9.Saquon Barkley (ankle) does not have an injury designation this week. He also doesn’t have Daniel Jones (IR-knee) under center as rookie Tommy DeVito will start vs. Dallas.Sleeper pick: While the Allen-Diggs combo gets much of the attention, Buffalo’s James Cook could flourish against a Broncos defense that gives up a league-high 33.6 fantasy points per game to running backs.

Fantasy football Week 10 wide receiver rankings

Ja’Marr Chase (back) did not practice at all through Wednesday and is questionable for Sunday vs. the Texans.Sleeper pick: With injuries to Chase and Tee Higgins (hamstring) Tyler Boyd could play a larger-than-usual role in the Bengals’ passing offense.Tank Dell is coming off a huge game (6 catches, 114 yards, 2 TDs) and is ranked slightly ahead of teammate Nico Collins, though both are excellent starts at Cincinnati.Drake London (groin) was limited in practice on Wednesday.

Fantasy football Week 10 tight end rankings

T.J. Hockenson (ribs) was limited in practice on Wednesday.Jonnu Smith was the TE4 last week with 5 catches for 100 yards and a TD. He’s the No. 9 TE on the season in fantasy points.Sleeper pick: The Colts give up the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends, making Hunter Henry a sneaky fill-in if you have Travis Kelce or Dallas Goedert on bye.

Fantasy football Week 10 kicker rankings

Ka’imi Fairbairn (quadriceps) has not practiced yet this week. The Texans signed Matt Ammendola to the practice squad on Tuesday.

Fantasy football Week 10 defense/special teams rankings

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A Houston eighth-grader was laid to rest Wednesday after he died of a brain injury suffered during a middle school football game.

Cain Lee, 14, who attended Lutheran South Academy in Houston, was injured during a Southwest Football League game on Oct. 11 and spent three weeks in a coma, according to the Houston Chronicle. Cain died on Oct. 30.

‘We were in Wellington living for a short period, and Cain was a friend to everyone,’ his father Cody Lee said. ‘I noticed a young man wearing a sweater and I don’t know all the kids’ clothes. I probably don’t even know all my clothes. And I said, ‘He’s got a sweater like you.’ He said, ‘Well, he didn’t have anything nice, Dad. So I’ve been sneaking clothes from home to give him my clothes so he wouldn’t be embarrassed when he was in school.”

Cain was also on a team in the Professional Baseball Academy, a youth development league in the Houston suburb of Alvin.

Professional Baseball Academy coach Darrin Forse said Cain was ‘a selfless kid who cared more about everyone else and how they did then how he performed. Cain, we love you and will honor you every day!’

Cain is survived by his parents, an older brother, and a twin brother. The Southwest Football League will have a moment of silence for Cain before each of their remaining games this season.

Authorities in Scottsdale, Arizona released bodycam footage of former NHL forward Alex Galchenyuk, who was arrested in July, accused of making threats to officials after a traffic accident.

The video, nearly 40 minutes in length, shows a drunk Galchenyuk making threats to police officers, saying things such as they will “die in the desert, ‘I will end your bloodline,’ and uttering racial slurs to one of the officers, who was Black.

Police initially responded to a possible hit-and-run incident, where a parking lot sign, a curb and another vehicle were struck.

According to a police report, authorities saw a man lying on the ground and later identified him as Galchenyuk. Galchenyuk’s father was in the driver’s seat of a white BMW while Galchenyuk was in the passenger seat, police said, but later determined that the hockey player was the one operating the vehicle at the time of the wreck.

The Arizona Coyotes terminated his one-year contract immediately after the arrest and days later Galchenyuk apologized for his ‘deeply offensive, uncalled for, horrendous, embarrassing, disrespectful, and just plain awful.”

Galchenyuk pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor threatening charge and had the other five charges dismissed in August.

The No. 3 overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft, Galchenyuk is currently on the roster for SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Major League Baseball’s owners are getting set to vote on the relocation of a franchise, even as that club has no specific home for two seasons, faces potential legislative roadblocks to crucial public financing and a shotgun wedding-style timeline to construct a permanent home.

Ready for the Las Vegas Athletics?

Apparently, MLB’s owners are, as they’ve called for a vote approving the team’s relocation from Oakland to Nevada. Twenty-three of 30 owners are required to approve the move, with balloting on the agenda at the owners’ meetings beginning Nov. 14 in Arlington, Texas.

Votes are rarely called unless the group has significant confidence it will pass. Yet there’s not much about the A’s move that appears shovel-ready.

A look at the whys and what-abouts regarding Oakland’s move ahead of the vote:

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Why are the A’s moving?

Owner John Fisher grew tired of attempting to secure funding for a new stadium in Oakland, abruptly cutting off negotiations with the city and announcing his intention to move the club to Las Vegas, where a $1.5 billion, retractable-roof stadium theoretically awaits. While the stadium search has dragged on nearly two decades in Oakland and other Bay Area cities, the A’s would be moving to the 40th-largest media market in the country, away from the No. 6 market they share with the Giants, across the Bay Bridge in San Francisco.

How are they financing the move?

The A’s received $380 million in financing from the state of Nevada after their lobbyists and tourism interests in Las Vegas convinced legislators to approve SB1, which was voted on in a special session Gov. Joe Lombardo called in June.

Fisher plans to finance the remaining $1.1 billion through a combination of debt and equity, the latter involving a small piece of ownership changing hands. The club says it has partnered with Goldman Sachs in hopes of financing the debt, which will be paid off with interest.

The A’s have insisted the new ballpark will generate revenue certainty enabling them to retain ballplayers rather than trade them away or let them leave via free agency, as they have with almost every key player in the last 30 or so years in Oakland. Yet the financing obligation begs the question of how much better off the club will be going forward.

What about Nevada teachers’ opposition to public funding?

A group of Nevada teachers, Schools Over Stadiums, has been gathering support and prepared to gather signatures for a ballot referendum forcing a public vote, rather than legislative approval, for the $380 million in public money for the A’s stadium. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has noted that the effort could be an obstacle in relocation.

But the schools group was dealt a setback Nov. 6 when a Nevada judge threw out the proposed ballot referendum and ordered them to re-file it, noting that language in their proposed bill was too broad. While the ballot referendum isn’t dead, it has hit a significant roadblock.

Where would the A’s play while the stadium is constructed?

Your guess is possibly as good as Manfred’s.

The A’s lease with Oakland expires after the 2024 season, and their stadium in Las Vegas would not be ready until at least the start of the 2028 season. That leaves two gap years, in which the A’s could play in their own Class AAA park in suburban Las Vegas, in Reno at the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Class AAA club – or return, hat in hand, for two more seasons in Oakland.

Whether their old city would pridefully decline to house them for two more years or take another two seasons of rent payments remains an open question. Meanwhile, stifling heat in southern Nevada raises questions from both MLB and the MLB Players’ Association that their minor-league park in Summerlin would be insufficient.

Either way, the deadlines for both temporary and permanent sites are bearing down. The parent company of the Tropicana Resort that will be demolished for the A’s stadium site has set a Dec. 1 deadline for MLB owners to approve the move before they move toward demolition plans.

Hence, the vote on the owners’ meeting agenda, even as significant details remain unresolved.

Is Oakland resigned to losing its team?

Both fans and elected officials are aiming to keep the city in the conversation, beyond what we saw during the so-called “Summer of Sell” in Oakland and across the majors. Oakland’s City Council passed a resolution “reaffirming the Town’s commitment to the Oakland A’s,” with vocal fans filling council chambers.

Oakland mayor Sheng Thao says the city’s work in securing the Howard Terminal site for the A’s has put them in position to mobilize for a new stadium, with Oakland supporters theorizing Fisher walked away from negotiations when declining Gap stock made funding his $12 billion stadium-anchored real estate development unrealistic.

A 10-minute video breaking down the A’s plight has been sent to MLB and the 29 owners, not unlike Thao’s report she sent to the same stakeholders showing how Oakland was ready to move on a deal before Fisher pivoted to Las Vegas.

It all might be too little, too late for the A’s in Oakland, especially once owners give their expected approval. At worst, though, it puts Oakland front of mind among owners as a desirable expansion market – even if it loses the A’s.