A Roundup of the Week Nov. 21-27

PRO BASKETBALL—Upon the resignation of coach Jack Ramsay, Pacer vice-president George Irvine stepped in on an interim basis and guided Indiana to its first victory of the season, 105-91 over the Bucks; Vern Fleming had 20 points for the winners. By Saturday, however, the Pacers were back on the losing track with a 122-114 loss to the 76ers that dropped their record to 1-11. Philadelphia had to rally from an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes to beat the expansion Hornets 123-116. But with a 4-0 week the Sixers overtook the Knicks to gain first place in the Atlantic Division. The Mavericks defeated the Nuggets 125-106 and then slipped by the Hawks in the last 30 seconds for a 100-95 win before rolling over the Jazz, 113-93, and into first place in the Midwest Division. Guard Derek Harper scored 79 points in Dallas's three wins. A foul-and fight-marred game between the Trail Blazers and SuperSonics resulted in several fines: Portland's Steve Johnson owes $3,500 for swinging at Seattle's Michael Cage, who must pay $1,000 for pushing back; Xavier McDaniel of the Sonics was docked $2,500 for failing to leave the court expeditiously upon being ejected for fighting. Oh, yes, Portland romped 125-104. In a battle of division leaders, the Pistons of the Central beat the Lakers of the Pacific 102-99 (page 42).

BOWLING—RON WILLIAMS beat Dave Ferraro 242-193 in the final match to win a PBA event and $27,000 in Columbus, Ohio.

CROSS-COUNTRY—At the TAC championships in Raleigh, N.C., PAT PORTER ran 10,000 meters in 31:07 to win the men's division, and LYNN JENNINGS won the women's title by racing 6,000 meters in 19:32. Earlier in the week, ROBERT KENNEDY ran a 10,000-meter course in 29:20, and MICHELLE DEKKERS won at 5,000 meters in 16:30 for an Indiana University sweep of the NCAA individual championships in Granger, Iowa. Wisconsin and Kentucky won the men's and women's team titles, respectively (page 90).

PRO FOOTBALL—The Vikings' defense feasted on the Lions' turkey of an offense on Thanksgiving, allowing Detroit three first downs and 60 total yards while beating the Lions 23-0. The win left a wildcard playoff berth and the NFC Central-leading Bears within Minnesota's reach. In the other Thursday game, the Oilers beat the Cowboys 25-17. The Browns improved their wild-card prospects and all but closed the door on the Redskins' hopes when Earnest Byner broke two tackles on a 27-yard touchdown run with 1:49 to play, for a 17-13 Cleveland win. The Bengals held on to first in the AFC Central with a 35-21 defeat of the AFC East champion Bills, in which Cincinnati accumulated 455 yards against a defense that had been allowing only 271 per game. The Steelers, now 3-10, beat the Chiefs, now 3-9-1, 16-10. The Falcons topped the Buccaneers 17-10. By missing fourth-quarter field goal attempts of 43 and 27 yards, the Patriots' Jason Staurovsky failed to prevent a 24-21 Colts win, which left New England and Indianapolis, both 7-6, in a skirmish for a wild-card spot. The Jets had an NFL-record 39 first downs in a 38-34 defeat of the Dolphins. New York's starting quarterback, Pat Ryan, left with a concussion in the third quarter after completing 27 of 43 passes for 341 yards and was replaced by Ken O'Brien, who completed six of nine for 92. Also winning injured were the Bears, who lost quarterback Mike Tomczak (separated left shoulder) and defensive end Richard Dent (broken left ankle) in a 16-0 defeat of the Packers. John Elway threw three TD passes, two of them within 15 seconds, in the Broncos' 35-24 defeat of the Rams, which moved Denver into first in the AFC West. The 49ers overtook the Rams in the NFC West with a 37-21 Monday night win over the Redskins and a 48-10 defeat of the Chargers, in which San Francisco's Roger Craig scored on a two-yard reception and runs of one and seven yards. The Niners are second behind the Saints, who lost 13-12 to the Giants. New York shares the NFC East lead with the Eagles, 31-21 victors over Phoenix (page 46).

HOCKEY—Mario Lemieux led the Penguins with a goal and four assists in an 8-2 demolition of the Rangers to kick off a 3-0 week that brought Pittsburgh to within three points of the Patrick Division-leading Rangers. With victories over the Rangers and Bruins, the Canadiens had a five-game winning streak going until Joe Sakic of the Nordiques stepped in with a hat trick in a 5-3 Quebec upset of Montreal. But the Canadiens bounced back with a 7-5 defeat of the Oilers that lengthened the Canadiens' Adams Division lead to four points. The Flames, 2-0 for the week, continued to lead the second-place Kings, by five points, in the Smythe Division, and the Red Wings maintained their wide advantage in the Norris Division.

INDOOR SOCCER—Kansas City defender Kim Roentved had a hat trick as the Comets blew out first-place Baltimore 8-1. The loss was the Blast's first in six games this season. Dallas forward Tatu and Los Angeles defender Hector Marinaro scored four goals apiece in an 8-6 Sidekicks win over the Lazers, and Dallas doubled its pleasure with a 7-4 victory over L.A. to hold on to second place.

WEIGHTLIFTING—Superheavyweight LEONID TARANENKO of the U.S.S.R. set world records with a clean and jerk of 585 pounds and a total lift of 1,045 pounds in Canberra, Australia. The clean and jerk was 1.1 pounds better than the mark he set in 1987, and the total beat by 5.5 pounds the record established by Aleksandr Kurlovitch last year.

MILEPOSTS—FIRED: As football coach at the University of the Pacific, BOB COPE, 51, who had a 22-46 record in six years with the Tigers.

NAMED: As commissioner of the LPGA, effective Jan. 1, marketing executive WILLIAM BLUE, 48. He replaces John Laupheimer, who resigned.

RESIGNED—As senior executive director of the USGA, effective Feb. 4, 1989, FRANK HANNIGAN, 55. He will be replaced by assistant executive director DAVID FAY, 38.

As University of Missouri football coach, WOODY WIDENHOFER, 45, who guided the Tigers to a 12-31-1 record in four seasons.

SUSPENDED: By the NHL for five games, Canadiens defenseman CRAIG LUDWIG, for using his elbow to level Blackhawk defenseman Trent Yawney during a game on Nov. 19. Penguin goalie TOM BARRASSO was suspended for one game for his second stick-related major penalty (page 56).

TRADED: By the New York Islanders, center BOB BASSEN, 23, and defenseman STEVE KONROYD, 27, to the Chicago Blackhawks, for defensemen MARC BERGEVIN, 23, and GARY NYLUND, 25.

By the Golden State Warriors, center-forward JEROME WHITEHEAD, 32, to the San Antonio Spurs for forward SHELTON JONES, 22.

DIED: Hall of Fame lefthanded pitcher CARL HUBBELL, 85; of head and chest injuries suffered in a car accident that occurred when he suffered an apparent stroke or heart attack while driving; in Scottsdale, Ariz. During 16 years (1928-43) with the New York Giants, Hubbell, considered the best screwballer ever, had a career record of 253-154 with a 2.97 ERA, led the Giants to three National League pennants and was named Most Valuable Player twice ('33 and '36).