LOS ANGELES — Donald Sterling's latest effort to block the $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was rejected by a California appeals court.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal issued a brief order saying it couldn't halt a sale that had been completed.

Even if the sale hadn't closed, the three judges said the former owner failed to show he was harmed enough to get a temporary stay.

Ballmer sealed the deal Tuesday after a probate judge cleared the way for Sterling's estranged wife to sell the team. The Los Angeles Superior Court judge said Shelly Sterling could complete the sale she negotiated after removing her husband of 58 years from the family trust that owned the team because of questions about his mental competence.

NEW YORK — LeBron James will play his first game since rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers at home Oct. 30 against New York, then return to Miami for the first time on Christmas.The NBA regular season will open Oct. 28, with the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs hosting the Dallas Mavericks in one of the three games that night.The league released its schedule, featuring a lengthened All-Star break, during an NBA TV special, with James' return to his original NBA team putting the Cavaliers in a number of prime positions.That includes the game at Miami in the third spot on the five-game Christmas schedule, traditionally a highlight of the NBA season. James led the Heat to two championships and four NBA Finals appearances in four years before deciding to return to his native Ohio.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State offensive lineman Edward Sarafin has told a local magazine he is gay, making him the first active Division I football player to come out.A fifth-year senior, Sarafin told Phoenix-based Compete, a magazine for gay sports, for its August issue that he began telling teammates about his sexual orientation last spring.The walk-on lineman, who goes by the nickname Chip, follows the precedent set by St. Louis Rams linebacker Michael Sam.