Big Ben Tolls (28 Points) in a 117-111 Clipper Victory

It took 7-foot center Benoit Benjamin of the Clippers more than half the season to get started last season.

Benjamin, the third player picked in the 1985 National Basketball Assn. draft, struggled in his first 50 games, averaging 7 points and 5.6 rebounds. But he came on strong in the second half, averaging 18.8 points and 11.4 rebounds in his last 29 games.

It looked as if Benjamin was off to another bad start this season. First, he reported to camp at 272 pounds, 26 pounds overweight. He had an uneven exhibition season, scoring 34 points in one game, then sitting out the following game because he didn’t bring the correct shoes.

Benjamin started the regular season by scoring just eight points in the Clippers’ opening 107-106 loss to the Sacramento Kings Friday night.

But it took just one day for Big Ben to get it together.

Saturday night, Benjamin matched his career high by scoring 28 points as the Clippers opened their third season in Los Angeles with a 117-111 win over the Phoenix Suns before 7,805 fans at the Sports Arena.

Benjamin scored 20 points in the second half as the Clippers came back from a 58-51 halftime deficit.

He made 10 of 17 shots and 8 of 9 free throws, including 3 of 4 free throws in the final 2:02. He also had 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocked shots.

“He knew after last (Friday) night that he played lousy,” Clipper Coach Don Chaney said. “He regrouped and was ready to play.

“I said to him after last night that in order for us to even exist in games, he has to score and get boards. That’s all I want--a chance to win. After a bad game last year, if you told him (he had played poorly), he would play worse the next night.”

Asked what turned it around for him, Benjamin said: “I just had some mental lapses last night. I had a kind of crazy week led by a turn of events that I’d rather not discuss.

“I said, ‘What the hell,’ and got my mind into the game. I just wanted more or less to block everything out of my mind and remind myself that I’m here to play basketball. I think I’ll be back to top form pretty soon.”

Clipper point guard Larry Drew, who scored only 12 points in the opener, had 24 points, 14 assists and 4 steals in his second game as a Clipper.

Forward Cedric Maxwell had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Marques Johnson added 13 points, and guard Mike Woodson came off the bench to score 12.

Walter Davis led the Suns with 32 points and 6 assists, and Larry Nance had 20 points before fouling out with eight seconds left. Ed Pinckney had 16 points and 9 rebounds.

The Clippers had lost their poise in the closing minutes of the season opener, squandering an eight-point lead in the final 1:22.

But this time, they managed to hold on for their first win of the season as Maxwell made four free throws in the final seven seconds. Maxwell had been the goat in the opener, turning the ball over and committing a questionable foul that resulted in the winning free throws by Sacramento’s Regie Theus.

With the Clippers leading the Suns, 112-111, with eight seconds left, Benjamin sank the second of two free throws to give the Clippers a two-point lead.

The Suns called a timeout to set up a play. It figured that they would try to get the ball to Davis, their high scorer.

But forward Mike Sanders, inbounding at midcourt, threw the ball away under heavy pressure from Maxwell. Sanders was trying to throw a cross-court pass to Davis, but Johnson held Davis up.

Maxwell sank two free throws with seven seconds left to give the Clippers a 115-111 lead after being fouled by Phoenix guard Jay Humphries.

The Suns, who had 21 turnovers, gave it away again when Pinckney was called for traveling with five seconds left.

Maxwell hit two more free throws with three seconds left to wrap up the game.

“Last night, we didn’t know where to go, but tonight, we didn’t lose our mental preparation,” Chaney said.

Clipper Notes

The Clippers will open a two-game trip Tuesday night against Dallas. They play at Houston Friday night. . . . Point guard Darnell Valentine, who ended his holdout Friday, will practice with the Clippers Monday. . . . Benoit Benjamin’s previous 28-point game was in a 129-108 loss to the Lakers last March.