NBA games lost yesterday: 9.

Total games missed: 350.

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: Utah at Minnesota. A matchup of the veteran Western Conference champions led by Karl Malone and John Stockton against one of the league's up-and-coming teams, stocked with talented young players like Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury and Tom Gugliotta.

Pub Date: 12/23/98