NBA Playoffs: Series Tied at 2-2... What Happens in Game 5 (and the Series)?

Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 109-103, and tied their Western Conference Finals series at 2-2.

So here’s the big question: What’s going to happen in Game 5 of that series on Monday night?

To get an idea of what might transpire, let’s take a look at the last 25 NBA playoff games where the series was tied at 2-2. We discover that:

* The home team won Game 5 in 20 of those 25 contests.

* The series ended with the Game 5 winner also winning Game 6 in 14 series.

* The series went to a Game 7 11 times. The home team won Game 7 in nine of those 11 games.

* The team that won Game 5 also won Game 7 seven times.

Here’s a look at those five series where the team winning the series was not the home team in Game 5

NBA Finals, 2010, L.A. Lakers over the Boston Celtics: In the 2-3-2 finals format, the home team Celtics won Game 5. The series then shifted to Los Angeles for Game 6 and Game 7, where the Lakers won both contests.

Eastern Conference Semifinals, 2010, Boston Celtics over the Cleveland Cavaliers: Tied at two games apiece, the visiting Celtics clobbered the Cavs, 120-88, in Game 5 in Cleveland. The Celtics then wrapped the series in Game 6 with a 94-85 victory.

Eastern Conference First Round, 2010, Atlanta Hawks over the Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks stole Game 5 in Atlanta with a 91-87 win and headed home for Game 6 hoping to close out the series. The Bucks lost Game 6 to the visiting Hawks, 83-69. The Hawks won the series with a 21-point win at home in Game 7.

Eastern Conference Semifinals, 2009, Orlando Magic over the Boston Celtics: The home team Celtics won Game 5, then lost Game 6 in Orlando and lost the series when they could not close out the Magic at home. The Magic won, 101-82, in Game 7 in Boston.

Western Conference Semifinals, 2008, San Antonio over the New Orleans Hornets: The Hornets defeated the Spurs at home in Game 5, but the Spurs won the series by winning Game 6 at home, 99-80, and then winning 91-82 in New Orleans.

Follow Jerry on Twitter @StatsonTapp