LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Rookie sensation Sue Bird collected 17 points and 10 assists Thursday night, and made five free throws in the final minute as the Seattle Storm surprised the Los Angeles Sparks, 81-76, for their season-high fifth straight win.
Bird had trouble finding her shot, sinking just 3-of-10 from the field, but she ran the offense and came through when it counted most as Seattle beat Los Angeles for the second time this season.
The defending champion Sparks (20-6) have lost four of six overall and their last two at the Staples Center, their first skid at home since July 1998.
A follow shot by Lisa Leslie, who had 30 points and 16 rebounds, pulled the Sparks to within 74-73 with 2:10 remaining. Bird then drained two free throws with 54 seconds left, and added two
more 18 seconds later for a 78-73 advantage.
Nikki Teasley sank a three-pointer and Bird split a pair from the line with 19 seconds to go, giving Los Angeles a chance to tie, but All-Star Mwadi Mabika missed a potential tying shot and Lauren Jackson sealed the win with two foul shots with 5.8 seconds to play.
Jackson scored 19 points and Kamila Vodichkova added 18 and 10 rebounds for the Storm (16-13), who also won here on July 11.
Mabika scored 16 points and DeLisha Milton added 11 for the Sparks, who shot 50 percent (33-of-66) from the field. The 6-5 Leslie, who registered the WNBA's first dunk on Tuesday night, made 14-of-17 shots.
Seattle shot 45 percent (29-of-64) and was outrebounded, 37-27, but committed just nine turnovers while forcing 18, turning them into 25 points.
The Storm took the lead for good at 61-60 on a basket by Kate Starbird with 7:37 to play. Vodichkova scored eight straight points for Seattle to keep Los Angeles at a 72-69 deficit with 3:43 left.
