HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player played like one and as a result, the Houston Comets have a chance to win their third consecutive title.

Cynthia Cooper had 23 points and a WNBA-playoff record 12 assists as the Houston Comets rallied for a 72-62 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in a contentious Game Three of the Western Conference finals.

The starting shooting guard had a hand in Houston's first 17 points of the second half and hit a 3-pointer in a decisive second-half run for the Comets, who will play the New York Liberty in a rematch of the first WNBA Finals in 1997.

"I knew I was going to have to play big minutes," said Cooper. "I was able to hold up for 40 and I had a lot of help tonight. We did exactly what we had to do to pull out back-to-back wins."

Sheryl Swoopes also scored 23 points for Houston, which won the final two games of its conference finals for the second straight year. The Comets are 6-0 when facing elimination in the WNBA playoffs.

"We played with the sense of urgency down nine and did things to disrupt them," Comets coach Van Chancellor said. "The Sparks thought they were going to wear us down, but they didn't."

Game One of the best-of-three series is Thursday at New York. The second game will be at Houston on Saturday.

Sparks star Lisa Leslie scored 20 points before being ejected in the final minute, when her frustration reached a fever pitch. Former college teammate Tina Thompson began talking trash to Leslie as the 6-5 center made her way upcourt.

Leslie countered with a double forearm shove to Thompson's throat, prompting an immediate ejection. Thompson further agitated Leslie by giving a salute the Sparks player is known for giving losing opponents.

"I think this Comets team knows that they just went through the best team in the WNBA and I wish them the best of luck," said Leslie, still stewing after the game. "I'm sure they won't have as hard a time with New York. We're still moving ahead, there's always another year."

Thompson was ejected for taunting but the game was well in hand.

"I'm not upset, but I'm not a fighter, I'm a basketball player," said Thompson. "Everything that happens on the court, I leave it between the lines. I saluted Cynthia Cooper and I guess Lisa took it the wrong way. She gave me an elbow and I said, `That's OK, Lisa, you guys are out of here.'

The Sparks fell to 0-8 all-time at Houston.

"We have a young team and for us to come together this year, getting the second-best record in the league and facing the Houston Comets was big," Sparks coach Orlando Woolridge said. "I thought we responded well and played with intensity. But we played against a team with a lot of heart."

Los Angeles led by as many as five points in the second half and held a 53-49 lead with 10:11 to go on a layup by La'Keshia Frett. But the Comets responded with a 10-2 tear as Cooper got things going with a 3-pointer.

Leslie countered with a lay-in but Tammy Jackson had a follow shot and fast-break layup off a feed from Cooper around a 3-pointer by Thompson as Houston opened a 59-55 advantage with 7:09 to play.

The Sparks came within two points on two occasions, the last time at 61-59 on a bucket by Leslie with 4:59 to go. But Houston's defense held Los Angeles scoreless over the next 3:11.

In that span, Jackson had a lay-in, Janeth Arcain banked a tough seven-foot runner and Swoopes added a steal and layup to give the Comets a 67-59 edge with 2:27 to play.

"We know when we get everybody involved on offense and on defense, we start clicking and go on amazing runs," said Jackson. "We showed that in this series. We made a lot of careless mistakes and realized we couldn't do that against a good team like LA."

Cooper also pulled down seven rebounds for the Comets, who shot 48 percent (29-of-61) from the field. Jackson finished with six rebounds, while Thompson was able to play nearly the final 8:21 with five fouls.

Mwadi Mabika added 14 points for Los Angeles, which shot 44 percent (26-of-59). Leslie and Mabika made 14-of-29 shots but the rest of the team hit only 12-of-30.