LOS ANGELES, Aug. 17 (Ticker) -- A typical effort by Lisa Leslie has put the Los Angeles Sparks in a typical spot.

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Leslie collected 23 points and eight rebounds as the Sparks completed a two-game sweep of the Seattle Storm with a 69-59 victory Saturday.

The defending WNBA champions advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the third straight season and will meet Houston or Utah in a series that begins Thursday on the road.

Leslie made 10-of-16 shots Saturday and averaged 23.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the two victories over Seattle. Tamecka Dixon chipped in with 15 points.

DeLisha Milton had six points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Andrew D. Bernstein/WNBAE/Getty Images

Los Angeles took the lead for good as Leslie scored six straight points for a 19-15 advantage with 7:43 remaining in the first half. The Sparks took a 33-25 lead into halftime.

Rookie Nikki Teasley scored four points to trigger a 13-2 run that gave the Sparks their largest lead at 46-31 with 12:42 remaining. Seattle made just 1-of-6 shots and committed four turnovers in that span.

The Storm finally found a rhythm and used a 14-2 run to pull within 56-54 on a 3-pointer by rookie Sue Bird with just over three minutes remaining. They were still within two when a pair of free throws by Lauren Jackson cut the deficit to 58-56 with 2½ minutes left to play.

Seattle had a chance to tie or take the lead but Michelle Marciniak forced a jumper that missed badly. The Sparks grabbed the rebound and Dixon's three-point play restored a five-point cushion.

Teasley made two foul shots and Marciniak committed a turnover that led to a layup by Dixon for a 65-56 advantage with 60 seconds to go.

Bird and Kamila Vodichkova scored 17 points apiece to lead Seattle. Jackson made just 1-of-9 shots for four points.