NBA Playoff road teams have found that winning on the road in the 2012 playoffs is extremely tough. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the win/loss column.

Out of the 74 games played so far in the 2012 postseason, the road team has only won 23 times.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have played a total of six playoff road games; winning three of those contests. Tonight in San Antonio, OKC will look to steal the home-court advantage from the Spurs in Game 5 of their best-of-seven Western Conference final. The series is tied at two-games apiece.

Throughout the history of the playoffs, Game 5 has always been the most pivotal game for both teams in a series tied at 2-2. Road teams really find misfortune in Game 5s. Since the 2000 NBA season, there have been 11 Game 5s with the series deadlocked at 2-2. Only two teams have won on the road: Cleveland (Cavaliers) beat Detroit (Pistons) in double overtime in 2007, and the Pistons won at Indiana (Pacers) in 2004. Both teams made the finals that season.

Oklahoma City struggled in its first two games at San Antonio, losing 101-98 and 120-111. However, the Thunder were able to win their two home games; 102-82 and 109-103. OKC has lost six straight games in San Antonio. Their last win there was November 14, 2009; 101-98.

For the past three seasons, the Thunder have been on the verge of joining the NBA's elite. OKC made the Western finals last year, losing 4-1 to the Dallas Mavericks. This season, they finished with the second-best record in the conference (47-19) behind the Spurs.

A win over San Antonio in Game 5 would be monumental for OKC. The Thunder will host Game 6—where they are 7-0 in the playoffs. A series win would make them only the fourth team since 2000 to represent the West in the finals; joining San Antonio, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Although title-talk is a little premature, this young Thunder team is primed for the Spurs. Star forward Kevin Durant is coming off a 36-point performance in Game 4 where he willed OKC to victory.

After the Spurs had trimmed OKC's 15-point lead to four, Durant took charge, scoring the Thunder's next 16 points in a span of over five minutes to ensure the win. Except for a 22-point disappointment in Game 2, Durant has had his way with San Antonio. He is averaging 28 points a game in the series.

All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook has struggled throughout the series with his shot, averaging only 15.3 points a contest. However, in Games 3 and 4, Westbrook attempted only 25 shots combined—both games resulting in wins. In the two losses, he was 17-of-45 from the floor.

The Thunder could use a big scoring game from Westbrook, but OKC would prefer he not force too many bad shots.

OKC could use another strong performance from frontcourt players Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins. Both players combined for 41 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in Game 4.

Game 5 will come down to the play of San Antonio's Tony Parker. The point guard torched OKC for 52 points (61 percent shooting) in the Spurs two wins, but was held to 28 total in their two losses. Thabo Sefolosha has used his size (6'7") to disrupt Parker—who's shooting 40 percent from the floor the past two games.

San Antonio will be ready for the challenge at home; however, it appears the Thunder have found the secret formula for defending Parker. Also, look for Westbrook to break out of his shooting slump.

Prediction: OKC by four.