Storm’s wait for next year under way

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks are playing on for the first time in three years.

Lisa Leslie and Temeka Johnson scored 14 points each, helping the Sparks outlast the Seattle Storm 68-63 Tuesday night in the deciding game of their WNBA playoff series.

“We did it with defense and making free throws down the stretch,” Los Angeles coach Joe Bryant said.

The top-seeded Sparks won the last two games of the best-of-3 series and will face Sacramento in the Western Conference finals beginning Thursday.

With her husband cheering courtside through a small yellow megaphone, Leslie grabbed eight rebounds. Johnson had six assists and fearlessly drove the lane against Seattle’s 6-foot-5 duo of Lauren Jackson and Janell Burse.

“Jackson had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead fourth-seeded Seattle, which lost in the first round for the second straight year.

Sue Bird added 15 points while wearing a clear face mask to protect a bruised nose she sustained Sunday in Game 2.

“I can’t really say anything bad about it because it allows me to play,” she said, “but it does take some adjusting to.”

Bird missed two huge jumpers in the final minute, including one with Leslie in her face.

“I got a very good look, a look that will haunt me for a very long time, probably until next season,” she said.

Seattle shot a woeful 30 percent from the floor — its worst effort of the series.

“We don’t shoot the ball very poorly that often,” Storm coach Anne Donovan said. “Our fourth-quarter zone defense really clicked in, then they started shrinking in a little bit and we just could not hit the outside shot.”