21.   Texas, under first-year coach Rick Barnes, formerly of Clemson, has dropped games to Houston, South Florida and Arizona.

22.   That they dropped two games last week by a combined five points might indicate that the charm has gone.

23.   The Chiefs have dropped consecutive games against New England, Pittsburgh, the Jets, Seattle and Denver.

24.   The Dodgers dropped two games behind Arizona in the National League West.

25.   The game was dropped in his lap.

26.   The Dodgers had dropped six games in seven days to the Giants.

27.   The Kings have dropped seven games by one goal.

28.   The Houston Astros dropped both games against the Atlanta Braves, who were widely expected to be their first-round playoff foe.

29.   The Mercury dropped a game behind Houston in the Western Conference, but not to the chagrin of its coach.

30.   The last-place Dodgers are freefalling, dropping six games in the standings in the last seven days.