Not even the Dennis Rodman sideshow can spoil the moment for San Antonio.

“This team has a chance to make Spurs history, significant Spurs history,” coach Bob Hill said.

The Spurs lead the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1 and can win the best-ofseven NBA playoff series tonight. A victory would give the Spurs their first spot in the Western Conference finals since 1983.

Hill said he will decide just before game time whether Rodman will play, but hinted strongly he will.

“Nobody holds grudges on this team,” Hill said. “I certainly don’t.”

Rodman, the league’s leading rebounder, was benched for Sunday’s Game 4 for arguing with Hill and refusing to join a huddle in the previous game, a Spurs’ loss. After practice Monday, Rodman retreated to the locker room, saying he didn’t expect to play today.

“I’m getting punished for some stupid reason,” he said. “It didn’t hurt me at all. I can play or not play. I’m not expecting to play.”

Hill later told reporters: “If I were you guys, I would always listen very closely to Dennis and then, probably, whatever he says, the opposite is true. … I promise you, had I needed him in Game 4, I would have used him.”

San Antonio defeated Los Angeles 80-71 Sunday, buoyed by David Robinson’s 26 points and 22 rebounds.

The hoopla surrounding Rodman is nothing new for the Spurs, who own the NBA’s best regular-season record and have played this season through Rodman’s suspension, leave of absence and shoulder injury sustained in a motorcycle accident.

“It’s part of our existence here,” Hill said. “Dennis is just playing a little game there. He’s trying to keep himself in a position of power. That’s what he’s all about.”

However, Hill acknowledged he’s getting bored discussing Rodman’s behavior.

“It’s like a sitcom that’s been on for 10 years,” Hill said. “You lose interest in it. It’s like the O.J. trial. I lost interest.”

Only four teams have won an NBA playoff series after being down 3-1. Game 6, if necessary, is Thursday at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

“You get to this point, nobody quits,” Robinson said. “We don’t want to give them even the slightest bit of hope.”

The Lakers watched an hour of film Monday before taking the practice floor. Lakers guard Nick Van Exel credited the Spurs for the way in which they responded in Game 4 without Rodman.

Lakers coach Del Harris said re moving Rodman gave the Spurs a boost. He also pointed to the strength of reserves Terry Cummings, who had six points and nine rebounds, and J.R. Reid, 15 points.