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Seattle’s Bird expected to wear protective mask for Game 5

Seattle Storm's Sue Bird, left, passes as Phoenix Mercury's Briann January (12) and Diana Taurasi (3) defend in the first half of a WNBA basketball playoff semifinal Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, in Seattle. Photo: Associated Press/Elaine Thompson

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird is expected to play in Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals on Tuesday night against Phoenix wearing a protective mask after suffering a broken nose in Game 4.

Bird said tests Monday showed no additional damage, and she went through practice later in the day.

Bird was injured midway through the second quarter of Game 4 when she took an accidental elbow to the face from teammate Breanna Stewart. Seattle led by as many as 17 in the first half, but Phoenix rallied to force Game 5 with an 86-84 victory.

It was the fifth time in her career Bird has broken her nose and while she had the protective mask with her in Phoenix, trainers couldn’t get the bleeding to stop enough for her to return to the game.

It’ll be a throwback for Bird, who suffered a broken nose during the 2004 WNBA playoffs. The Storm went on to their first league title that season.

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