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Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Judge Michael Levanas ruled against Donald Sterling on Monday in his attempt to prevent the $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

The Los Angeles Superior Court Judge favored with Donald Sterling's estranged wife Shelly Sterling on all counts in the tentative ruling, upholding the removal of her husband as trustee of the Sterling Family Trust, which owns the Clippers, on grounds of mental incapacitation.

"We are pleased that the court has affirmed Shelly Sterling's right to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer. We look forward to the transaction closing as soon as possible," the NBA said in a statement.

Shelly Sterling negotiated the sale of the team after the 80-year-old Donald Sterling was banned for life from the NBA and fined $2.5 million for making offensive racial remarks about African-Americans.

She got authority to remove her husband from the trust that owned the franchise when doctors found out that he had signs of Alzheimer's disease and was unable to manage his affairs.

Donald Sterling claimed his wife deceived him about the medical examination.

The Donald Sterling ban came after an audio recording in April by TMZ.com surfaced of Sterling scolding his young girlfriend for bringing black men to Clippers games.