BOSTON (AP) — Private equity mogul William Chisholm has agreed to buy the Boston Celtics in a deal that values the NBA’s reigning champions and most-decorated franchise at a minimum of $6.1 billion. It’s the largest price ever for American professional sports team.

If the deal is approved by the NBA’s board of governors this summer, the sale would top the $6.05 billion paid for the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023.

Chisholm is a Massachusetts native and graduate of Dartmouth College who is the managing partner of California-based Symphony Technology Group.

FLAGG IS READY FOR NO. 1 DUKE

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Duke freshman star Cooper Flagg said he’ll be ready to play in Friday’s NCAA Tournament opener against Mount St. Mary’s as he recovers from a sprained ankle. Flagg missed the last two games in top-seeded Duke’s run to the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title.

The unanimous Associated Press first-team All-American went through the team’s home-state public practice Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina. Friday’s East Region schedule also includes Mississippi State against Baylor in Raleigh. In Cleveland, second-seeded Alabama faces Robert Morris, while Saint Mary’s faces Vanderbilt. And in Seattle, Arizona meets Akron while Oregon faces Liberty.

McNEESE HOLDS OFF CLEMSON

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — McNeese coach Will Wade and his boombox-toting manager are moving on in March Madness after the 12th-seeded Cowboys held off late-charging No. 5 seed Clemson 69-67 in the first bracket buster of the NCAA Tournament.

Brandon Murray scored 14 of his 21 points in a stifling first half when the Southland Conference school from Lake Charles, Louisiana, held Clemson to 13 points.

After falling behind by as many as 24, the Tigers rallied, erasing most of a 12-point deficit in the final minute before running out of time. It was McNeese’s first NCAA Tournament win. The Cowboys will play Purdue on Saturday.

AUBURN BEATS ALABAMA STATE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Miles Kelly made seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points, All-American Johni Broome added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 1 seed Auburn beat 16th-seeded Alabama State 83-63 on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers lasted one game in 2024, losing to Yale days after winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament. This time, Auburn came in having lost three of four inside the power-packed SEC with a resume still strong enough to earn the top overall seed among the four No. 1 teams. Auburn will play No. 9 seed Creighton in the second round of the South Region on Saturday.