Reuters Sports Schedule at 0001 GMT on Friday, March 28
Reuters sports schedule at 0001 GMT on Friday: - - - - NBA 76ers look to steer clear matching dubious losing streak The struggling Philadelphia 76ers, one loss shy of matching the NBA record of 26 consecutive defeats, visit the Houston Rockets hoping to steer clear of the dubious distinction in one of four games on the NBA schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 450 words) - - - - NHL Blues look to tame Wild, Bruins host Cup champs The NHL-leading St. Louis Blues host the Minnesota Wild while the Boston Bruins look to pad their lead atop the Eastern Conference when they host the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in two of the 10 games on the schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 975 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0001 GMT/8:01 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Texas Open (to 30) San Antonio Perez, Lee share early first-round lead at Texas Open Pat Perez and Danny Lee grabbed the early first-round lead at the Texas Open on Thursday while Phil Mickelson endured a putting nightmare and was well off the pace. (GOLF-PGA/, moved, 350 words) - - - - TENNIS Sony Open (to March 30) Williams reaches final, Nadal faces Raonic in Miami MIAMI - Serena Williams continued her decade-long domination over Maria Sharapova with a 6-4 6-3 win to reach her ninth Sony Open final while fellow world number one Rafa Nadal will also be back on centre court to face big-hitting Canadian Milos Raonic in men's quarter-final action. (TENNIS-MIAMI/ (PIX), moved with updates to follow, by Steve Keating, 400 words) - - - - MOTOR RACING Formula One: Malaysian Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur (to 30) Mercedes duo expected to lead the way in practice SEPANG, Malaysia - Mercedes pair Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are likely to lead the way again in first practice for the second grand prix race of the season at steamy Sepang. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/PRACTICE, expect from 0330 GMT/1130 AM ET, by Patrick Johnston, 500 words) - - RUGBY Super rugby round seven Canterbury Crusaders v Wellington Hurricanes, Christchurch (0635) Melbourne Rebels v ACT Brumbies, Melbourne (0840) The Wellington Hurricanes have reached the must win point of their season already with a loss to the Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch likely to all but rule them out of playoffs contention with more than half the season to play while the ACT Brumbies travel to Melbourne looking to extend their lead in the Australian conference. (RUGBY-SUPER/, expect by 0830 GMT/3.30 AM ET, 200 words) - - - - CRICKET World Twenty20 Australia v West Indies, Dhaka, ICC World Twenty20 India v Bangladesh, Dhaka, ICC World Twenty20 India eye semis, Australia face Windies in must-win game MIRPUR - The 2007 world champions India could become the first Group Two team to reach the semi-finals with struggling Bangladesh at their mercy, while Australia play holders West Indies in a must-win game for both teams at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. (CRICKET-WORLD/T20 (PIX), expect from 1300 GMT/9 am ET, by Amlan Chakraborty, 450 words) - - - - SOCCER Ligue 1 Nice v Paris St Germain (1930) PSG warm up for Chelsea clash with Nice trip PARIS - Paris St Germain gear up for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg at home to Chelsea with a trip to Nice where a win would put them 13 points clear in Ligue 1. (SOCCER-FRANCE/ (PIX), expect by 2130 GMT/4:30 PM ET, by Julien Pretot, 300 words) - - Bundesliga Schalke 04 v Hertha Berlin (1930) Copy on merit - - Dutch Championship NAC Breda v FC Utrecht (1900) Copy on merit - - - - (Asia duty editor: Greg Stutchbury)
