[0] LAKERS' CLIMB CONTINUES : LAKERS 96 MINNESOTA 89.

Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer

Remember the Lakers' well-worn slogan for the 1999 season? Say it together now: ``Dennis is Dennis.''

It's the mantra the Lakers live by, and might eventually die by.

Dennis Rodman, his own rulebook in hand, turned a slim Lakers victory into another night of personal whimsy Friday. As the Lakers tried mightily to close out a too-difficult 96-89 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rodman refused to re-enter the game. For the second time in two weeks.

Sometime in the fourth quarter, the Lakers locked in a close struggle with the Wolves, Rodman was summoned. He once again pleaded ``tightness'' in his muscles.

Meanwhile, an unused stationary bicycle that Rodman himself requested sat unused a few yards away from the bench.

Coach Kurt Rambis tried to hide his frustration, but he made it clear two weeks ago, when Rodman refused to re-enter a loss to Sacramento, that it's the player's responsibility to be ready to perform.

``When I wanted to put Dennis in, he said he was too stiff to go in. So that was that,'' Rambis said Friday. ``I understand ballplayers being stiff, but that's your job, to be ready the entire basketball game. It doesn't matter whether you've played two seconds or 48 minutes. It's the player's job to be ready.''

Rodman's teammates downplayed the incident or declined to discuss it.

Last time this happened, Rodman skipped practice the next day. Whether this is the precursor to another flare-up - one that could jeopardize Rodman's job - is unclear.

As per usual, Rodman did not speak to reporters afterward. He did not address the issue in comments that were gathered by the Lakers' public relations department.

He did call the Lakers' effort ``nothing to be proud of'' and ``ridiculous. It's very disappointing for the fans to come out here and see this kind of (garbage). It is not right. We should blow teams like this away.''

On that issue, he and the team are in agreement.

Somehow, the Wolves overcame a 10-point, third-quarter deficit and retook the lead briefly in the fourth despite playing without three starters - Joe Smith (attending father's funeral) and the injured backcourt of Terrell Brandon and Anthony Peeler.

And their only healthy star, Kevin Garnett, had an off-night, missing 16 of 21 shots. But little-known Tom Hammonds scored 22 points - 12 in the fourth quarter - to lead a surprising charge, and Minnesota tied the game as late as the 2:32 mark.

``We just need to understand where we are in the game a little bit better,'' said Derek Harper. ``We have to find a way to finish games off.''

Shaquille O'Neal staved off the upset, scoring four straight points, then feeding Robert Horry for a layup to regain a four-point lead with 1:16 to go. Former Clipper James Robinson's 3-point airball with about a minute left ended the threat, as the Wolves were forced to foul.

O'Neal and Glen Rice scored 25 points each, and O'Neal added 15 rebounds - 10 in the first half. Horry provided the latest spark off the bench, hitting 5 of 5 shots and finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Oddly, despite the ugly win, the Lakers wake up today a resurgent force in the Western Conference. With two straight wins, the Lakers reclaimed fourth place in the conference for the first time since March 25, moving just .001 ahead of Houston.

But pleased with the way they got there? Not exactly.

``Would I say I was happy? No, I wouldn't say that,'' Rambis said. ``No. I'm not happy.''

Not with the game, and presumably, not with his starting power forward.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--Color) The Lakers' Glen Rice, who scored 25, also shows defense against Minnesota's Tom Hammonds.

(2) Shaquille O'Neal sees the light on two of his 25 over Minnesota's Dean Garrett.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News

Box: GAME RECAP