Sparks Stop Storm Rally to Move On

The Sparks were looking so cool, so confident with a 14-point lead to start the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s final first-round game against Seattle. You could almost see the cellphones popping open seeking flight information to Sacramento.

Of course it wouldn’t be that easy.

The Storm rallied furiously, reducing the Sparks’ lead to one point with 28.4 seconds left. After Sparks guard Tamara Moore made a free throw to put Los Angeles up by two, Seattle had a chance to tie or win the game with 28 seconds left.

But Storm guard Sue Bird, under some defensive pressure by the Sparks’ Lisa Leslie, missed a 12-footer. Murriel Page, who had hit a three-pointer to end the third quarter, got the rebound with nine seconds to play.

The Sparks made three more free throws in those final seconds and hung on for a 68-63 victory at Staples Center.

“In a playoff game, and as good as Seattle is, you know they’re going to come back,” Sparks Coach Joe Bryant said. “And we’re not built to where we’re going to beat people by 20.

“I told them even if we don’t score another basket, stop them from scoring. That’s what you hang your hat on.”

So the Sparks, who won the series, 2-1, advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2003. They face the WNBA defending champion Monarchs in Sacramento on Thursday, and play games two and three, the latter if necessary, in Southern California this weekend.

They are also facing the team that has eliminated them from the playoffs the last two seasons.

Bryant said the team had talked about being eliminated in the first round.

“We just didn’t want that to happen again,” Bryant said.

Leslie, who had 14 points and eight rebounds but was scoreless in the fourth quarter, made her biggest contribution in getting into Bird’s sightline just enough to bother her potential game-tying shot.

“I was pretty close,” Leslie said. “But I was afraid to even touch her ball. I did not want them to send her to the free-throw line. I just got enough in her way visually and did not touch her.”

Bird, who had 15 points, acknowledged Leslie’s presence but said it was the kind of shot she always takes in practice.

“She contested it, but I got a very good look,” Bird said. “A look that will haunt me for a very long time -- probably up to next season.”

The loss was even more disappointing to Seattle forward Lauren Jackson, who scored 11 of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter.

“We knew the game wasn’t over,” said Jackson, who also took down 10 rebounds. “We knew we were right there. But we made some mistakes, some that probably stopped us from winning the game.”

Seattle made only 29.9% of its shots, while the Sparks made 36.2% of their attempts.

Temeka Johnson had 14 points for the Sparks and also six assists. Mwadi Mabika added 11 points as Chamique Holdsclaw sat out because of a foot injury.

Bird and Jackson were the only Seattle players in double figures.

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First look

SPARKS VS. MONARCHS

Western Conference finals

* Schedule -- Thursday, at Sacramento, 7 p.m., NBA TV; Saturday, Arrowhead Pond, 6 p.m., ESPN2; Sunday (if necessary), Staples Center, TBA, ESPN2.

* Guards -- Tamara Moore and Temeka Johnson vs. Ticha Penicheiro and Hamchetou Maiga-Ba. Penicheiro has slowed a bit, but she is the league’s all-time assists leader. Maiga-Ba is a physical player who can post up opposing guards. Moore can equalize Maiga-Ba in physical play and Johnson’s quickness can wear down Penicheiro. Advantage: Even.

* Forwards -- Jessica Moore and Mwadi Mabika vs. DeMya Walker and Nicole Powell. Walker is finally rounding into form after the birth of her daughter in April. Powell has had an up-and-down season but is dangerous from three-point range. Mabika has to have her confidence early in the game to score often. Moore will have her hands full trying to guard Walker inside. Advantage: Even.

* Center -- Lisa Leslie vs. Yolanda Griffith. Leslie struggled at times against the big front line of Seattle and faces the same problem here. Griffith is playing on creaky knees but loves to compete against Leslie. Advantage: Sparks.

* Bench -- With Chamique Holdsclaw’s effectiveness questionable because of a left foot injury, the Sparks lose significant firepower. Sacramento usually plays 10 players, and Kara Lawson has had a hot hand, especially from three-point range. Advantage: Sacramento.

* Coaches -- Joe Bryant vs. John Whisenant. Bryant used up a lot of emotional motivation to get the Sparks past the Storm. Whisenant had the Monarchs looking like the defending champions they are with the first-round sweep of Houston. Advantage: Even.

* Prediction -- Monarchs in three.

MIKE TERRY