MILWAUKEE -- The NBAs board of governors unanimously approved the sale Thursday of the Milwaukee Bucks to New York investment firm executives Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry, bringing the forlorn franchise one step closer to starting a new era. Former U.S. senator Herb Kohl reached agreement with them last month for a price tag of about $550 million after they pledged to keep the team in Milwaukee. The NBA said Thursday in a statement that the transaction is expected to close shortly. The leagues expected approval comes days before the NBA holds its draft lottery. The Bucks, who had a league-worst 15 wins, have the best odds to get the No. 1 pick next week for Junes talent-rich draft. "The Bucks and their fans will benefit greatly from their vast business experience, energy and strong commitment to Milwaukee," commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. Lasry and Edens committed to providing $100 million to help build a new arena. Kohl also announced he would donate $100 million for a new facility to replace the BMO Harris Bradley Center, the teams downtown home, which opened in 1988. Edens had said he hoped to get a plan completed for a new arena in a year, and have it built in a couple of years. He thought it might take about $400 million to build a new facility, though the new owners might face a tricky task in seeking public funding if they dont get more private help. Kohl bought the Bucks for $18 million in 1985. The Milwaukee native, whose family owned a chain of department stores, was hailed as a hometown hero. Silver praised Kohl for his "unprecedented and historic financial gift toward the construction of a new Milwaukee arena and for his outstanding service to the league and his community over his nearly 30-year tenure." An injury-plagued season left the Bucks a franchise-worst 15-67. They have finished above .500 only three times since 2000, though Milwaukee did make the playoffs in 2012-13. The Bucks were swept in four games by Miami in the first round. With new owners and a 25 per cent chance to pick up the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Bucks face a defining off-season. Even if it doesnt win the lottery, Milwaukee cannot fall below the fourth pick in a draft stocked with top prospects, including Dukes Jabari Parker and Kansas Andrew Wiggins. Yeezy Boost 550 Deutschland . Fielder has been out with a herniated disk in his neck, and surgery was recommended after a follow-up exam and another scan Thursday with Dr. Yeezy Replica Deutschland . While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg. http://www.yeezyschuhe.de/yeezy-schuhe-deutschland.html . -- Gary Harris gave No. Ultra Boost Schuhe Sale . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Adidas Nmd r2 Kaufen . The Oilers have been shut out in three straight home games and are in last place in the Western Conference with a 4-14-2 record. "Things have obviously not gone as well as I would have thought probable.Two Atlantic Division foes, each with their own playoff jockeying still to do, jump it up Friday night when the New York Knicks visit Air Canada Centre to face the Toronto Raptors. Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. You can also listen to all the action live on TSN 1050 at 7pm et. The Knicks are two games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference race. Both teams only have four games left on the regular- season docket. The Raptors are on the doorstep of the franchises first Atlantic Division title since the 2006-07 season. A win on Friday, or a Brooklyn Nets loss to the Hawks, and Toronto is the division winner and also clinches homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. "Weve got to bring the same effort and focus every night," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said after practice Thursday. "Its not something you teach. Its a mindset of understanding where we are in the season and what were playing for." The Raptors have been on a roll of late with four consecutive victories and seven wins in their last eight. The only setback during that stretch was a road loss to the Miami Heat. Toronto, which has won five straight at home, earned its fourth consecutive win with a 125-114 home victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. The 125 points marked a team high since Feb. 27. Jonas Valanciunas scored a career-high 26 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Kyle Lowry, who missed Torontos last three games with a bruised knee, registered 29 points with eight assists in his return to the lineup. "I was happy to be back out there with my teammates,&" said Lowry.dddddddddddd "The guys did a great job while I was out." DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Patterson added 17 points apiece in the win. The Raptors shot 50 percent from the field and 48 percent from long distance. They only committed seven turnovers, but did allow the Sixers to shoot almost 52 percent from the floor. The Knicks have slipped out of the final postseason slot thanks to back-to- back losses. They fell at home to the Washington Wizards one week ago, then fell in South Beach to the Heat on Sunday, 102-91. That was the last time the Knicks took the court, so they should be well rested. "Ive got to get this team in the playoffs. Thats where my focus is," said Knicks coach Mike Woodson. "Thats where everybodys focus should be." J.R. Smith put on a record-setting performance from beyond the arc on Sunday, setting a Knicks record with 10 made 3-pointers. Smith also set a pair of NBA records, with 22 attempts from long distance in a single game and 24 made 3- pointers over a three-game span. He ended with 32 points. Raymond Felton had 15 points and five assists for New York. Carmelo Anthony, who played with a sore shoulder, added 13 points and six assists. "Throughout the course of the game, it just felt like a dead arm at times. Just a tough afternoon," Anthony said. Anthony is expected to play in Fridays crucial contest. These two teams will close the regular season on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. The Raptors have won both of this seasons meetings with the Knicks and three of the last four as the host in this series. ' ' '