NBA PLAYOFFS / UPDATE : LAKERS : Player Shortage for Sun Series

Center Benoit Benjamin is scheduled for surgery today to remove an infected nail from his left big toe, making him questionable for Friday’s playoff opener against the Suns at Phoenix.

Benjamin’s problem, coupled with the decision to put Anthony Peeler on the postseason roster even though his severely sprained right foot is three weeks from healing, leaves the Lakers two reserves short for their first-round series.

Benjamin had his two best games as a Laker last week, scoring 14 points at Minnesota and 17 at Utah.

In including Peeler, Coach Randy Pfund said the Lakers played percentages in case they advance and his injury heals quickly. They dropped forward Alex Blackwell.

Phoenix point guard Kevin Johnson, who has a sprained left knee, will probably sit out the first three games of the series instead of only two because team officials don’t want to rush him back. The Suns were 26-7 in games he sat out this season. . . . Charles Barkley led the Suns in scoring against the Lakers with a 24-point average, slightly below his 25.6 season average. Against the Suns, James Worthy led the Lakers (0-5) at 13 points. . . . Tickets for Game 3, next Tuesday at 7:30, are available at the Forum and through Ticket Master. Game 4, if necessary, would be played May 6 at the Forum, and a fifth game would be May 9 at Phoenix.