Updated Jul 23, 2009 - 7:27 am
Storm get past Sparks in triple OT, 98-87
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Bird led a 13-0 run by Seattle in the third OT and helped the Storm (11-6) win their third straight game.
Tina Thompson led Los Angeles (4-9) with 22 points. Betty Lennox notched her second consecutive double-double for the Sparks, scoring 19 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Candace Parker also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Storm played most of the second overtime and all of the third OT without Lauren Jackson, who was ejected with two technical fouls in her first game back since straining her left Achilles' tendon last Wednesday.
Jackson was ejected with 2:51 left in the second extra session on her second technical foul after scuffling with DeLisha Milton-Jones under the Seattle basket. Jackson scored 18 points.
After Thompson's 3-pointer gave Los Angeles an 85-82 lead to open the third overtime, Bird drained a 3 from the left of the lane, tying it at 85-85.
Swin Cash then drove for a lay-in, putting Seattle ahead for good at 87-85 with 2:57 left.
Bird buried another 3 from the left side with 2:13 remaining, making it 90-85 for Seattle. Camille Little hit two free throws, and Bird's final 3-pointer made it 95-85 in the final minute.
Cash finished with 16 points for Seattle.
Little's driving scoop shot tied it for Seattle at 75-75 with 21 seconds left in the first OT. The Sparks weren't able to get off a shot before the buzzer.
Bird moved into third place on the WNBA assists list. Her pass to Jackson for a 3-pointer gave Bird 1,339 for her career, moving her past former New York Liberty star Teresa Weatherspoon.
Bird now is within 60 assists from catching her teammate Shannon Johnson for the No. 2 spot. Johnson had 1,398. Sacramento's Ticha Penicheiro tops the list with 2,064.
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