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.

"This was a big game and everyone knew it," said Bird, the former Connecticut star selected first overall this year in the WNBA draft. "Hopefully we can win one more and secure our spot."

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.

"I'm thrilled to death to still be in the hunt for a playoff berth," Seattle coach Lin Dunn said.

Bird 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.

"Sue Bird was great with the pick-and-roll, at jump shots, hitting 3s and taking fouls," Portland guard Jackie Stiles said. "She just had a complete game."

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

Portland tied it 65 with less than nine minutes to go, but Jackson made two free throws and hit a turnaround jumper two minutes later, giving the Storm the lead for good.

"You got to give them credit. They played hard and made the tough shots," Fire coach Linda Hargrove said. "It seemed like when we got cold, they got hot."

The Storm had a 47-29 rebounding advantage.

"I thought that whoever controlled the boards would win the game," Dunn said. "Down the stretch was a war and we used our rebounding to get second shots and stay in the game."

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