AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Seattle Storm were thrilled to make the playoffs, even if they nearly blew a 25-point lead to get there.
Lauren Jackson’s driving layup with 10 seconds left helped the Storm beat the Detroit Shock 81-79 Tuesday night and avoid one of the biggest collapses in league history.
“That’s a great win for us,” said Seattle coach Anne Donovan. “We knew Detroit was too good to just quit.”
After Swin Cash could only make one free throw with 31 seconds left, Sue Bird, Cash’s college roommate at Connecticut, took the inbounds pass and waited. As the shot clock ran down, she found Jackson inside, and the Australian Olympian spun past two defenders for the go-ahead layup.
“I was just trying to get a basket,” said Jackson, who finished with 18 points. “I didn’t care how.”
Bird then jumped into Jackson’s arms at midcourt as Detroit called timeout.
Deanna Nolan missed a game-tying shot with three seconds remaining. Katie Smith had a game-high 25 points for Detroit.
Seattle dominated the first half, hitting nine 3-pointers on its way to a 53-31 halftime lead. Bird had 20 of her 24 points in the half, including six 3-pointers.
The Storm increased the margin to 56-31 in the first minute of the third, but couldn’t put Detroit away.
A Shock rally, sparked by a spectacular defensive play by Nolan, pulled Detroit within 66-58 at the end of the third. She ran down Bird in the open court and swatted her layup attempt off the backboard and into the hands of teammate Plenette Pierson.
Detroit kept coming in the fourth, beating the Storm to nearly every rebound, and Cheryl Ford’s basket pulled them within 73-71 with 4:01 to play.
After a Betty Lennox basket, Ford hit two free throws and Smith drained a 3-pointer to give Detroit a 76-75 lead.
The teams traded the lead until Cash missed the second of her free throws to leave the score tied at 79.
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