Baskets and Boards on Rodman’s Menu : Spurs: Rebound specialist scores 22 points, a personal playoff best, as Robinson has an off night.

The big surprise wasn’t that San Antonio Spur forward Dennis Rodman, who had been wearing his hair blond with a red AIDS ribbon trimmed in the back, dyed his hair green with a purple AIDS ribbon before Monday night’s Western Conference semifinal game against the Lakers.

Big deal.

Rodman changes his hair color almost as often as Madonna, his former girlfriend.

The big surprise was that Rodman, who talks to the media about as often as he shoots, made 10 of 13 shots and scored a career playoff-high 22 points before fouling out with 4.6 seconds to play in regulation as the Spurs beat the Lakers, 97-90, in overtime before a sellout crowd of 26,127 at the Alamodome.

“If I’d stayed in the game, I figure I would have had 30 (points), but I can’t worry about that, I just have to go on,” Rodman told a San Antonio reporter. “The 22 points? If it wasn’t me, it would have been someone else. I had no choice. I even shot a jumper tonight (he missed). It was the first time in many moons.”

Rodman set a franchise record by getting 22 rebounds, one shy of his career playoff high, as the Spurs won their 11th consecutive game and took a 2-0 lead in their series with the Lakers.

Coach Bob Hill wasn’t surprised that Rodman, who averaged 7.1 points during the regular season, was so productive.

“Dennis was great,” Hill said. “The 22 points added a new facet to his entertainment package, and we needed the points tonight.

“I’m not surprised; you all should be. We see (Rodman shooting well) every day in practice. We see what he’s capable of. If they’re going to leave him (open), he’ll dunk the ball inside and score.”

All-Star center David Robinson, who bruised his left elbow when he was knocked to the court by Laker forward Elden Campbell in the Spurs’ 110-94 series-opening victory on Saturday, struggled, missing 20 of 26 shots, including 12 in a row.

But Rodman took over for Robinson.

“He was huge tonight,” Robinson said of Rodman. “When we shoot poorly, we all have to pick up the slack. Before tonight’s game I told him, ‘We need 20 rebounds from you tonight,’ and he came through. He did everything we asked of him.”

Rodman even played point forward, running the offense as if he were directing traffic at a busy intersection. At one point, he frantically waved his arms as he tried to direct his teammates. Seeing that Robinson was out of position, he shoved Robinson over to the correct spot.

And Rodman, the NBA’s bad boy, was on his best behavior, avoiding a technical foul before he fouled out.

Rodman may have been motivated because he was playing in front of former Detroit Piston Coach Chuck Daly, now a TV sportscaster. Daly, Rodman’s first NBA coach, has remained close to Rodman.

“He had a brilliant game,” Daly said of Rodman. “He senses what goes on in the playoffs. He’s been there before and he understands. He knew this would be a struggle (with Robinson playing poorly).”

Laker Coach Del Harris agreed.

“Rodman took advantage,” Harris said. “Green hair . . . Chuck Daly . . . he had it all going for himself tonight.”