SEATTLE (AP) Sue Bird scored a franchise-high 33 points as the Seattle Storm beat Portland 83-74 on Friday night to take a half-game lead over the Fire in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

Seattle (16-14) prevented Portland (16-15) from clinching the fourth Western Conference playoff berth, and won the season series 2-1 to take the playoff tiebreaker between the teams.

Seattle has two games remaining in the regular season, a home game against Utah on Sunday night and a road game at Sacramento on Tuesday night. Portland will close the regular season Sunday night at home against last-place Phoenix.

Bird, the former Connecticut star selected first overall this year in the WNBA draft, was 10-of-18 from the field and 10-of-11 from the line. She broke the franchise record of 28 points set last season by Semeka Randall.

Lauren Jackson added 23 points and 13 rebounds for Seattle, and Amanda Lassiter had nine points. Jackie Stiles scored a season-high 18 points for Portland, and Tamicha Jackson had 16 points.

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