Reuters Sports Schedule at 1445 GMT on Thursday, Dec 22

Reuters sports schedule at 1445 GMT on Thursday (times GMT):

SOCCER

Serie A

AS Roma v Chievo Verona (1945)

Cagliari v Sassuolo (1945)

Fiorentina v Napoli (1945)

Palermo v Pescara (1945)

Sampdoria v Udinese (1945)

Torino v Genoa (1945)

Free-scoring Napoli visit inconsistent Fiorentina

MILAN - Free-scoring Napoli, back to the form that saw them finish as Serie A runners-up last season, visit a Fiorentina side searching for consistency while second-placed AS Roma face Chievo. (SOCCER-ITALY/, expect by 2145 GMT/4:45 PM ET, 400 words)

English Premier League

We will have the latest news ahead of the Dec. 26 holiday fixtures. (SOCCER-ENGLAND-TEAM/, expect throughout)

NBA

Spurs, Clippers in Western showdown

Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs (23-5) seek a sixth victory in a row when they travel to Los Angeles to take on Chris Paul and the Clippers (21-8) in a big Western Conference showdown. (BASKETBALL-NBA-LAC-SAS/, expect by 0630 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

Warriors look to widen gap in West

Kevin Durant and the league-leading Golden State Warriors (25-4), winners of five straight games, look to increase their lead in the West when they visit the struggling Brooklyn Nets (7-20) while second-best San Antonio battles the Los Angeles Clippers in two of five games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0600 GMT/1 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 450 words)

NHL

Jagr targets one point to push past Messier

Czech Jaromir Jagr needs one point for the Florida Panthers against the visiting Boston Bruins to move past Mark Messier for outright second place on the all-time NHL points list, while the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets (21-5-4) go for an 11th successive win when they host Sidney Crosby and the champion Pittsburgh Penguins (21-7-5) in two of 10 games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0600 GMT/1 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)

NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS

Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words) ( London desk editor: Ken Ferris)