NBA agrees to buy Hornets from Shinn

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Heat star LeBron James soars to the basket for a dunk against the Bucks. He had 17 points in the Heat’s fifth victory in a row. | Getty Images

Updated: April 19, 2011 5:13AM

NBA commissioner David Stern confirmed Monday the league is proceeding with its plan to buy the New Orleans Hornets from majority owner George Shinn and minority owner Gary Chouest. Shinn has been trying since last spring to sell the team to Chouest, but those negotiations stalled.

‘‘In the absence of any viable purchaser seeking to own the Hornets in New Orleans, I recommended to the NBA board of governors that the best way to assure stability and the adequate funding of the franchise would be for the league to step in and complete the transaction and assume control,’’ Stern said.

The Hornets will be the first NBA team owned by the league. Stern didn’t say what the NBA is paying for the club, but he did say the franchise ‘‘has been valued in excess of $300 million.’’

◆ Dwyane Wade scored 25 points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds, and the Miami Heat used a 17-2 run in the first half to take control on its way to an 88-78 triumph against the Milwaukee Bucks for its season-high fifth victory in a row.

college football

Report: Indiana has new coach

Indiana is expected to hire Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson to be its new head coach today, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. Wilson would become the Hoosiers’ sixth coach since 1996 and would replace Bill Lynch, who was fired Nov. 28 after winning only three Big Ten games in three seasons.

◆ Syracuse punter Rob Long will undergo immediate surgery to remove a benign brain tumor and won’t play for the Orange in the Pinstripe Bowl against Kansas State. He had been having headaches for the last several weeks, and an MRI exam revealed the tumor.

◆ Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, Oregon running back LaMichael James, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore were named finalists for the Heisman Trophy, which will be awarded Saturday in New York.

◆ Former Washington Redskins tight ends coach Jon Embree was introduced as the new coach at Colorado after accepting a five-year deal.

nhl

Pens’ winning streak hits 10

Sidney Crosby scored a goal and set up another, and the Pittsburgh Penguins matched the second-longest winning streak in franchise history by defeating the visiting New Jersey Devils 2-1 for their 10th consecutive victory. Marc-Andre Fleury improved to 11-0-1 in his last 12 starts.

◆ Niclas Wallin and Logan Couture scored eight seconds apart about five minutes into the second period, and the San Jose Sharks handed the Detroit Red Wings only their second home loss of the season in regulation with a 5-2 victory.

◆ Longtime forward Bill Guerin, who was unable to land a contract this season, is retiring after scoring 429 goals in 18 seasons with eight teams. He was honored before the Penguins’ victory against the Devils.

college basketball

Villanova suspends Pinkston

Villanova suspended freshman forward JayVaughn Pinkston for the rest of the season after he was charged with assault. Police in Upper Merion Township (Pa.) charged Pinkston with simple assault and harassment after an off-campus altercation in November. He had been held out of all the Wildcats’ games this season.

◆ Former Marquette coach Hank Raymonds died at 86 after a long battle with cancer. Raymonds, a former assistant under Al McGuire, took over the team after McGuire’s departure in 1977 and coached until 1983, compiling a record of 126-50.

Sun-Times wires