Benjamin Makes the Most of His Minutes : Lakers: In first major role in two months he has 14 points, three blocks and six rebounds in a 107-95 victory over the Timberwolves.

MINNEAPOLIS —  In the six weeks since he last played more than 20 minutes in a game, Benoit Benjamin has patiently awaited a second chance he wasn’t sure he would get.

“It’s puzzling,” he said of his limited action since being acquired from the Seattle SuperSonics on Feb. 22 in the Sam Perkins trade. “But I don’t have any control. You just have to stay positive and try to make the best of it.”

Benjamin made the best of his 27 minutes Tuesday in the Lakers’ 107-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center, helping sustain their hopes of finishing the season at .500. The 7-footer enjoyed his best scoring night as a Laker with 14 points, in addition to tying a season-high with three blocks and collecting six rebounds.

“I was very proud of him tonight,” said A.C. Green, who had a team-high 20 points but a sub-par three rebounds. “He really played exceptionally well. He was staying mentally in the game and not being frustrated. He did a lot of things.”

Until an early fourth-quarter run, the Lakers (38-41) were only slightly better than the Timberwolves, who have lost 10 consecutive games. Led by Christian Laettner, who scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, Minnesota (18-61) narrowed its deficit to 81-80 with 9:07 to play on a goaltending call against Benjamin on a jumpshot by Doug West. But reserve Tony Smith blocked a shot by Chuck Person and Anthony Peeler made a jumper for two of his 18 points and an 83-80 Laker lead.

Green padded that to 85-80 on a layup after a steal by Smith and Peeler ended a 7-0 run with a layup after Green forced one of Minnesota’s 25 turnovers.

“Against a team like that, you look to see if we’re sticking to our principles, if guys are coming to help and at the collective team attitude,” Green said. “I won’t say this was a tuneup for the playoffs, by no means. We have work that we can do and there’s no better way to do that than against competition instead of in practice.”

With the seventh playoff spot slipping out of their grasp, the Lakers intend to work on their defense in their three remaining games.

With efforts like Tuesday’s, Benjamin could help in that regard.

“I’ve seen in practice he can be one of our best rebounders and intimidators inside,” Pfund said. “I haven’t given him the minutes he needs to get comfortable. He always seems to need to get over a hump of negatives . . . (Tuesday night), from my standpoint, was a big, big night for Benoit.”

Laker Notes

Vlade Divac had a team-high 10 rebounds but scored only four points, his lowest total since Feb. 8. He had averaged 17.2 points in his previous six games. . . . Anthony Peeler wore protective padding over his sore left hip. “It’s bothering me, but I’m a strong man,” he said. His free-throw streak ended at 32. . . . Minnesota’s Micheal Williams has made 63 consecutive free throws, the fifth-longest streak in NBA history. . . .Dates for the Lakers’ first-round playoff series will probably be announced Monday. It will open April 29 or 30 on the road--almost certainly Phoenix--with the second game two days after the opener. The first home game will be May 3, 4 or 5.