NBA games lost yesterday: 4

Total games missed: 312

Earliest estimated date season can start: Jan. 22.

Projected player salary losses (through Jan. 22): $480 million.

Negotiations: Nothing scheduled.

Today's best canceled game: Lakers at Timberwolves. Los Angeles swept the four-game series last year by an average of 14.5 points.

Quotes: "I urge you to focus on the extent of the compromises the owners have made from their initial bargaining demands." -- Commissioner David Stern in a nine-page letter mailed to all NBA players.

"We view this as a desperation tactic by the NBA. They had counted on the passage of time to weaken the players, and that strategy has failed." -- Union director Billy Hunter.

Pub Date: 12/18/98