Jackson swats Sparks

The track “Beat It” played before player introductions as a tribute to pop star Michael Jackson, who died Thursday.

Storm forward Lauren Jackson made “Beat It” a theme for the night.

Blocking two shots, altering several others and scoring 32 points, Jackson helped the Storm collect a 69-67 WNBA victory over the Los Angeles Sparks at KeyArena on Friday night.

With 5:14 remaining in the second quarter, Jackson’s block of Los Angeles forward DeLisha Milton-Jones’ shot gave the Seattle standout the 500th swat of her career. Jackson is the third player to accumulate 500-plus blocks, joining Lisa Leslie and Margo Dydek. And at 28, Jackson is the youngest to accomplish the feat.

Perhaps the biggest swipe went to Storm teammate Swin Cash with 0.5 seconds remaining. Once leading by 16 points, Seattle found itself teetering with a two-point lead with 3 seconds remaining. Sparks forward Tina Thompson had the ball and tried to make a tying shot.

Cash reached to steal the ball, ending the game.

Betty Lennox had an off night in her second visit to KeyArena since leaving the Storm in 2007 and Thompson, acquired when the Houston franchise folded, couldn’t carry the Sparks as she did the Comets in the past.

Thompson scored seven of her team-high 20 points in the second half to help tie the score twice in the final 5 minutes. Jackson responded with a 3-pointer and Sue Bird added her signature pull-up jumper to give Seattle enough of a lead to stave off more Thompson heroics.

Jackson made 12 of 15 shots from the field and added eight rebounds.

In its second home-and-home set of the season, Seattle (6-2) travels to play Sunday at Los Angeles (2-5), where the Sparks are 2-0.