Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday, May 12

May 12 (Reuters) - Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday (times GMT):



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NBA

MIAMI - An inspired LeBron James delivered the decisive blow with the last 10 points as the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 97-87 on Wednesday to book their place in the Eastern Conference finals. (NBA-PLAYOFFS/, moved, pix, by Steve Keating, 400 words)

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BASEBALL

NEW YORK - The Kansas City Royals knocked down Robinson Cano then pushed past the rest of his New York Yankees team mates to defeat the pinstripes 4-3 in the 11th inning. (BASEBALL-YANKEES/, moved, pix, by Julian Linden, 350 words)

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SOCCER

South American Libertadores Cup quarter-finals, first leg

BUENOS AIRES - Penarol and Santos, the earliest winners of the Libertadores Cup, improved their chances of another title with victories in the first leg of their quarter-finals ties . (SOCCER-LATAM/LIBERTADORES, moved, pix, by Rex Gowar, 400 words)

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LONDON - Manchester City fans have suffered more than most but victory in Saturday's FA Cup final against Stoke City would spark the second set of celebrations in a week as the club's massive investment begins to pay off.(SOCCER-ENGLAND/CUP (PREVIEW), moved, by Mark Meadows, 400 words)

See also SOCCER-ENGLAND/CUP (FACTBOX)

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PARIS - Lille's surprise dominance this season could yield a first trophy in the French Cup final on Saturday but holders Paris St Germain have vowed to "try everything" to keep hold of their cherished prize. (SOCCER-FRANCE/CUP (PREVIEW), moved, 400 words)

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MILAN - Sampdoria's descent from Champions League aspirants to relegation fodder has been remarkable and Sunday's meeting with a Palermo side with mixed emotions further complicates their horrid season. (SOCCER-ITALY/ (PREVIEW), expect by 1000, 300 words)

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TENNIS

ATP/WTA: Rome Masters/Italian Open (to 15)

ROME - Top seed Rafa Nadal starts Thursday's action against compatriot Feliciano Lopez while second seed Novak Djokovic plays Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka and third seed Roger Federer faces France's Richard Gasquet. (TENNIS-MEN/ROME, by Richard Allen, 350 words)

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CYCLING

Giro d'Italia (to 29)

FIUGGI, Italy - Dutchman Pieter Weening leads heading into Thursday's sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia, a 216-km trek through the hills from Orvieto to Fiuggi. (CYCLING-GIRO/, expect by 1600, by Alasdair Fotheringham, 400 words)

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GOLF

PEDRENA, Spain - Seve Ballesteros, one of golf's greatest showmen, was given an emotional send-off by hundreds of mourners at a funeral service in his hometown of Pedrena. (GOLF-BALLESTEROS/, moved, pix, TV, by Mark Elkington, 500 words)

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LONDON - Seve Ballesteros's Houdini-like escape acts were so compelling that amateur golfers will always be trying to 'Do a Seve' when faced with impossible situations in the trees or rough, according to Gary Player. (GOLF-BALLESTEROS/PLAYER (INTERVIEW), moved, by Tony Jimenez, 500 words)

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Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - South African Tim Clark is not going to let a nagging elbow injury get in the way of defending his Players Championship title this week at the TPC Sawgrass. (GOLF-PGA/, moved, pix, by Simon Evans, 450 words)

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European Tour: Iberdrola Open, Mallorca, Spain (to 15)

ATHLETICS

Daegu Pre-Championships Meeting, South Korea

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CRICKET

West Indies v Pakistan, first test, Providence (to 16)