Thunder-By-Numbers: Stats Tell The Story For OKC

Grant Belcher, News9.com

Stats and numbers don't always tell the whole story, but they can certainly do a great job painting a picture of a game or series in a straightforward manner.

Here are some of the most telling numbers from Oklahoma City's first round playoff series with Dallas.

94 - Percent of the time a team that goes up 2-0 in a series goes on to win the series. Dallas might have a bit of confidence from keeping the first two games so close on the road, but the odds are certainly not in the Mavericks' favor at this point.

95 – Percent of free throws hit by Oklahoma City in its 102-99 victory on Monday night. And that was on 37-of-39 shooting from the stripe. You don't have to look far to see that those numbers were the difference in the game. The Thunder's shots were not falling, so they got to the line a lot, and made them. Ironically, Durant was responsible for the only two misses.

2.5 – Average point margin deciding the past four games between these two teams in Oklahoma City. The Thunder have won all four of those games, and given their fans quite the show at the same time.

15-of-44 – Durant's shooting numbers in the first two games (just 34 percent), which is both good and bad. It's unfortunate for OKC that he can't seem to get going, thanks in large part to sturdy defense from Shawn Marion. But it's good for the Thunder to know they can win without him playing at his best.

0 – number of field goals in the final 4:51 of the game for the Thunder on Monday. Oklahoma City's final eight points came from the free throw line.

4.67 – Serge Ibaka's blocks per game against the Mavericks this season, almost exactly one block higher than his overall average against the rest of the league. Harder to put into stats on paper is the amount of shots he undoubtedly altered or prevented altogether with his presence on the court. When he was on the bench with foul trouble in Game 2, it was quite evident as the Mavericks seemed to get to the rim with ease.

23-5 - The Thunder's record when Russell Westbrook shoots more times in a game than Kevin Durant does, which adds up to .821. When Durant takes more shots than Westbrook in a game, Oklahoma City is just 23-13 (.639).

12 – The combined number of technical fouls on players or coaches between the two teams in the six matchups so far this season. Something about the budding rivalry, dating all the way back to last season's Western Conference Finals, brings out the aggression in both teams.

19 – James Harden's points in the first game of the series

19 – Total Oklahoma City bench points in the first game of the series (all from Harden).

32 – Total Oklahoma City bench points in the second game, a much more balanced effort. Harden had 15 points, Derek Fisher 11, Nick Collison four and Daequan Cook two.

8.0 and 10.6 – points and rebounds per game of former Dallas center Tyson Chandler during last year's Western Conference Finals when he played for the Mavs. His replacement, Brendan Haywood, is averaging 3.0 and 3.5 in the first two games against OKC this year. Big difference in the middle.

4th and 7th – Jason Kidd and Derek Fisher are the fourth and seventh-oldest players in the league. Kidd is in his 18th year in the league (Kevin Durant was five when Kidd joined the NBA). And Fisher is in his 16th season. But Kidd had a career playoff-high seven steals in game one, and Derek Fisher shot 5-of-6 from the floor on Monday, scoring 11 points to help the Thunder to the win.