Storm 64, Lynx 54

SEATTLE (AP) — Without an injured Sue Bird for most of Monday night's playoff game, the Seattle Storm needed major contributions from their bench.

And for the second straight game, Seattle's reserves responded.

Seattle's bench outscored Minnesota's 27-16 as the Storm advanced to the WNBA Western Conference finals with a 64-54 victory over the Lynx.

”This team has learned, that one, we can play without our superstars,” Storm coach Anne Donovan said. ”Our personnel has learned how to step up in their absence.”

Lauren Jackson scored a game-high 18 points for the Storm, who swept the best-of-three series after winning Game 1 in Minnesota on Saturday. Seattle was the only WNBA team to sweep their first-round series.

”This year is awesome,” Jackson said. ”We really worked hard to be where we are and I'm really pleased.”

The Storm lost Bird, their starting point guard and U.S. Olympian, early in the first half with a broken nose after she collided with Minnesota's Teresa Edwards while setting a screen.

Bird fell to the floor, then ran off the court with her hands covering her face and blood dripping from her nose. Donovan said it was a ”bad break” and that Bird's nose was still bleeding after the game. X-rays were scheduled for Tuesday.

”It really isn't bad now. It doesn't hurt,” said Bird, who said she expects to be able to play in the Western Conference finals. ”I'm sure it's going to be really bad tomorrow.”

Bird spent most of the first half in the training room, but returned to the bench midway through the second half holding an ice bag on her nose and watched her teammates put together an impressive run to end Minnesota's season.

Down 48-45 with just under 10 minutes remaining, Seattle went on a 14-1 run to take a 59-49 lead with just under 3 minutes left.

The Storm scored 19 of the game's final 25 points.

It was Seattle's bench that led the rally with Alicia Thompson, Tully Bevilaqua and Janell Burse coming up with key baskets during the run. Thompson had 10 points in the game and Bevilaqua, filling in for Bird, played a season-high 27 minutes and added nine points.

In the series, Seattle's bench outscored Minnesota's 50-27.

”We were told we have to have the bench,” Thompson said. ”We took that personal and said, 'hey, when we get our opportunity, we've got to go in a make a difference.”'

Minnesota was led by Svetlana Abrosimova, who scored 14, all in the second half. Nicole Ohlde added 11, but Minnesota struggled holding on to the ball, committing 20 turnovers, 13 before halftime.

The Lynx were held to just 10-of-27 shooting in the second half and went seven minutes without a field goal.

”Some of the shots didn't fall for us and they played with a lot of energy, and more sense of urgency down the stretch,” Minnesota coach Suzie McConnell-Serio said. ”Seattle just had too many weapons.”

Monday's victory marked the first time Seattle has advanced past the first round of the playoffs. The Storm were swept by Los Angeles in 2002, their only other playoff appearance.