NBA games lost yesterday: 7.

Total games missed: 130.

Earliest estimated date that season can start: Dec. 22.

Negotiations: The sides held a formal bargaining session for 9 1/2 hours.

Projected player salary losses (through Dec. 22): $298 million.

Today's best canceled game: Chicago at San Antonio. For the past five seasons, Dennis Rodman was involved in a Spurs-Bulls game while playing for one team or the other. This season, one of the biggest unanswered questions was whether he would return to the defending champs.

Pub Date: 11/21/98