Seattle ? Sue Bird had 10 points and 14 assists a day after having surgery on her broken nose, and the Seattle Storm advanced to the WNBA Finals with an 82-62 win Tuesday over the Sacramento Monarchs in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

Bird broke her nose in the Storm’s first-round series against Minnesota. She underwent closed reduction surgery Monday morning.

Her 14 assists were a playoff record, breaking the old mark of 12, which was reached by three players.

Lauren Jackson added 27 points for Seattle, which won Games 2 and 3 on its home court after dropping the opener in Sacramento.

Seattle will travel to face Eastern Conference champion Connecticut in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Friday night. The Storm will host Game 2 and — if necessary — Game 3.

The Storm led 44-43 in the second half before scoring 18 straight points. Seattle missed only two shots and hit four three-pointers during the run.

Sacramento went nearly eight minutes without a basket, finally ending the run on a jumper by Tangela Smith with 6:51 left.

Yolanda Griffith led the Monarchs with 13 points, but Sacramento lost Game 3 of the conference finals for the third time. The Monarchs lost Game 3 to Los Angeles in 2001 and 2003.

Seattle's Sheri Sam (55) celebrates a three-pointer against Sacramento with teammate Sue Bird (10). The Storm beat the Monarchs, 82-62, Tuesday in Seattle to advance to the WNBA Finals.

Seattle became the first Western Conference team other than Houston or Los Angeles to reach the WNBA Finals.

Bird said she had no ill affects from the 15-minute procedure to straighten the break — and it showed on the court. She played 33 minutes and was 4-for-7 from the field.