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Sparks-Storm Preview

Sep 19, 2009 - 6:02 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Los Angeles (18-16) at Seattle (20-14), 5:00 p.m. EDT

Seemingly on the verge of getting eliminated from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Sparks for the third time in four years, the Seattle Storm saved their season in the closing seconds.

They'll try to ride the momentum from that dramatic victory Sunday when the clubs square off in Seattle with a trip to the Western Conference finals on the line.

After dropping Game 1 in Los Angeles, second-seeded Seattle appeared to be in danger of getting swept when it fell behind by four with 14.3 seconds remaining Friday night.

The Storm, though, pulled out a 75-74 home victory to keep their season alive. Sue Bird made a 3-pointer with 10.7 seconds left, and Camille Little stole the Sparks' ensuing inbounds pass, got a return pass from Tanisha Wright and made a go-ahead layup with 5.0 remaining.

"We've got people out there who aren't going to quit," coach Brian Agler said. "Now did it look good for us for a second? No, it didn't look good. But Camille and Tanisha defensively just made a great play. We got an opportunity to make a layup, and we're playing Sunday."

Los Angeles coach Michael Cooper isn't concerned that his team's inability to close out the last game will affect the No. 3 seed Sparks in the deciding contest.

"You've got to get over it. We've got another one. That's why it's a three-game series," said Cooper, who guided the Sparks to their two WNBA titles in 2001 and '02. "Again, all they've done is what they were supposed to do - won their home-court game. There's a third game to be played on Sunday and I guarantee it's going to be just as exciting as this one."

Cooper might be encouraged by the fact that Los Angeles has won each of its three previous playoff series against Seattle, registering first-round victories in 2006 and '08.

Including Friday's game, the Storm are 3-0 at home against the Sparks in 2009, and they've won seven of eight there in the series since the start of the 2007 season. The lone loss, however, was in a deciding Game 3 of last year's first-round playoff series.

The Storm are determined to put those bad playoff memories behind them.

"A lot of these games are mental," Bird said. "Whatever team makes a mistake, the other team capitalizes on it. We just need to stick to our game plan. I expect a fired-up L.A. team. I wouldn't blame them. So we're going to have to match their intensity, if not exceed it."

Sunday's game could be the last in the illustrious career of Los Angeles center Lisa Leslie. If the Sparks don't advance, the league's all-time leading scorer and rebounder will retire as a three-time MVP, seven-time All-Star and two-time champion.

Leslie is averaging 13.0 points and 12.0 rebounds in the series.

Seattle has been led by forward Swin Cash, averaging 21.0 points and 3.0 steals over the first two games.