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Jackson scores 32 as Storm beats LA, 69-67

Jun 27, 2009 - 5:49 AM SEATTLE(AP) -- Lauren Jackson had 32 points and eight rebounds as the Seattle Storm withstood a late rally to beat the Los Angeles Sparks 69-67 Friday night.

Sue Bird scored 15 and Tanisha Wright had eight points and eight rebounds for Seattle (6-2), which won its third consecutive game.

Tina Thompson scored 20 points and Marie Ferdinand-Harris and DeLisha Milton-Jones had 10 apiece for Los Angeles (2-5). The Sparks dropped to 0-5 on the road.

Los Angeles rallied from a 16-point, second-half deficit to tie the game twice in the fourth quarter, including 61-61 on a basket by Ferdinand-Harris with 3:40 remaining.

But Jackson responded with her third 3-pointer of the game and an inside basket to give Seattle a 66-61 lead.

Bird hit a jumper to make it 68-63 before the Sparks scored two baskets to cut the lead to 68-67 with five seconds left. Jackson made 1-for-2 free throws to make it 69-67 with 3.3 seconds remaining.

Los Angeles rebounded the second missed free throw and called a timeout to inbound the ball at midcourt.

Thompson received the inbound pass, but Swim Cash stripped the ball away from her as time expired.

Jackson had 20 points and six rebounds to help give the Storm a 36-28 halftime lead. Jackson shot 8 for 8 from the field, including two 3-pointers. The Storm led by as many as 13 in the second quarter.

Lisa Leslie missed her second straight game for the Sparks with a right-knee sprain.

Jackson blocked a shot in the second quarter to become the third WNBA player with 500 career blocked shots. Margo Dydek (877) and Leslie (773) top the list.