WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- Lauren Jackson scored 25 points, including the go-ahead basket, and Sue Bird added 21 Saturday to rally the Seattle Storm from a 14-point deficit for an 80-71 victory over the Washington Mystics.
With the game tied at 66-66, Jackson made a three-pointer with 3:18 remaining. It put Seattle ahead for good and sparked a closing 14-5 run, during which Jackson scored six points.
The victory moved the Storm within two games of Portland for the fourth and final Western Conference playoff spot.
The loss spoiled the return of All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw, who led all scorers with a career-high 32 points after missing nine games with a sprained left ankle. The Mystics were 5-4 in her absence and have lost three straight as their lead in the East was trimmed to one game over New York.
Washington raced to a 22-8 lead on a layup by Holdsclaw with 10:42 left in the first half. But the Storm answered with a 31-19 run to get within two points at halftime.
Holdsclaw also pulled down 11 rebounds while Jackson had 11 for Seattle, which scored 19 points off 19 turnovers by the Mystics.
