Thunder is 4-2 in series tied 1-1 after two games

The Jazz beat the Thunder 102-95 Wednesday night, and now the Western Conference playoff series is tied 1-1.

This is not new ground. Seven times in Oklahoma City history, the Thunder has had homecourt advantage but managed just a split in the first two games. Such a scenario turns the series into a five-game competition, with the Thunder at a homecourt disadvantage.

Doesn’t sound promising. But the Thunder has survived such problems.

The Thunder is 4-2 in advancing to the next round, when the series is tied 1-1 and OKC is headed out on the road.

2011 Memphis: The eighthseeded Grizzlies stunned the Thunder 114-101 in Game 1 of the West semifinals. OKC evened the series 111-102 in Game 2, then the wrestling match with the grit-and-grinders continued for five more games before the Grizzlies were vanquished in Game 7.

2012 Miami:The Thunder won Game 1 of the NBA Finals, then the Heat famously zapped OKC by opening Game 2 with an 18-2 salvo. The Thunder rallied but lost 100-96. The series never made it back to OKC; the Heat won three straight to hoist the flag.

2013 Memphis: With Russell Westbrook sidelined with a torn meniscus, the Thunder scrambled and survived the Grizzlies 93-91 in Game 1 of the West semifinals. But Memphis won Game 2 99-93 — and the Thunder never won again. The Grizzlies won two close games in Memphis, then returned to OKC and closed out the series 88-84.

2014 Memphis: The loaded Thunder whipped the Grizzlies 100-86 in Game 1 of the West first round, but Memphis beat OKC 111105 in Game 2. The Thunder went to Memphis and split two games, reaching 100 points neither time, then the Grizzlies won 100-99 in overtime, back in Oklahoma City. But the Thunder routed Memphis in back-to-back games, 104-84 in Memphis, 120109 in OKC.

2014 LA Clippers: The Clippers routed the Thunder 122-105 in Game 1 of the West semifinals and everyone thought, uh-oh. But OKC won Game 112-101, then went to Los Angeles and won Game 3 118-112 and returned home up 2-1. The Thunder’s epic rally at home in Game 5 — OKC trailed 104-97 with 45 seconds left but won 105-104 — set up a Thunder victory in Game 6 in LA.

2016 Dallas:In the West first round, the Thunder was a heavy favorite over the Mavericks. But outmanned Dallas won Game 2 85-84, causing massive head-scratching throughout the state. But the Thunder won three straight easily, closing out the series.

So what’s the lesson? Well, this Jazz team is more like those grand old Memphis teams. Defense. Big. Tough. A point guard (Mike Conley/Ricky Rubio) who isn’t an all-star but can often play like one.

The Thunder twice survived being 1-1 with Memphis. The Grizzlies advanced once, when OKC was without Westbrook. Of course, this Thunder team is without Kevin Durant, though it has Paul George.

But here’s the true lesson. Same as you shouldn’t put too much stock in one game, you shouldn’t put too much stock in two games.

“Every game is different,” said Utah center Rudy Gobert.

And now the Thunder faces a five-game series, with games every other night, and Utah has homecourt advantage. The Thunder has been there before.