HOUSTON, Aug. 10 (Ticker) -- Two days after the Houston Comets moved into the driver's seat, the Sacramento Monarchs kicked them out ... for now, at least.

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Tangela Smith scored 17 points and Lady Grooms added 14 as the Monarchs built a big lead and then held off a furious rally spearheaded by Sheryl Swoopes and beat the Comets 61-59 Saturday.

The loss may have cost the Comets home-court advantage throughout the WNBA Playoffs. Houston posted a 67-64 victory at Los Angeles on Thursday night to tie the Sparks for the best record in the league at 23-7, and owns the tiebreaker advantage by virtue of winning the season series.

But the Monarchs, the hottest team in the league with nine wins in their last 10 games, knocked Houston out of the top spot:

Los Angeles can clinch the WNBA's best record with victories in both of its final two games, or one victory and a Houston loss in the Comets' finale;

Houston can clinch with a victory on Tuesday and a loss in one or both of Los Angeles' final two games.

Swoopes scored a season-high 32 points Saturday and did her best to rally the Comets, who trailed by 13 with just 6½ minutes left.

Swoopes hit a basket and a 3-pointer to ignite a game-ending 15-4 run but missed a potential tying 15-footer from the left side with six seconds left. Houston had a last chance to tie the game, but Tiffani Johnson missed a 12-foot jumper from the left side at the buzzer.

The loss snapped a 13-game home winning streak for the Comets,who close the regular season here Tuesday against Minnesota.

Houston again played without forward Tina Thompson, who missed her second straight game with a bruised right hip.

Smith scored six points to highlight a 12-2 run that helped Sacramento open its biggest lead at 53-39 with 8:46 left.

Swoopes converted a 3-pointer and Janeth Arcain hit a jumper to pull Houston within 53-44, but Grooms scored inside and Ruthie Bolton converted a layup off a pass from Ticha Penicheiro to give Sacramento a 13-point advantage with 6½ minutes left.

But Swoopes would not let the Comets quit. She had eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and a steal in Houston's game-ending run. Her steal set up Michelle Snow for a layup which pulled the Comets within 61-59 with 33 seconds left.

Sacramento's Yolanda Griffith was called for a charging foul as she ran over Arcain on the ensuing possession, giving Houston a chance to tie. But Swoopes and Johnson missed shots in the final seconds.