Game 4 notebook: Second Tyson Chandler technical foul rescinded

*Taking a 31-22 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Thunder hit its first nine shots of the game, but then went 6 for 17 (.353). Durant hit his first five shots and finished 5 for 6. En route to trailing 27-12 in the first quarter of Game 3 on Saturday night, OKC shot 4 for 17 (.235) from the floor and Durant was 1 for 5. Durant finished 9 for 22 on Monday.

*With 5:11 left in the second period, point guard Russell Westbrook meandered his way through the lane off a set play drawn up during an OKC timeout and converted a layup to give the Thunder a 51-40 lead. On his way back down court, Westbrook immediately turned and pointed at coach Scott Brooks to signal "nice call" to the coach who benched him the entire fourth quarter of Game 2 in Dallas.

*The Mavericks outscored the Thunder 16-3 at the free-throw line in the first half. The Mavs attempted 19 from the line, while OKC attempted five. Dallas finished 34 for 39 (.872) and the Thunder was 19 for 25 (.760).

*Pop singer/pianist Greyson Chance, a 13-year-old from Edmond, sang the national anthem.

BLOCKED OUT

The Thunder leads all playoff teams in blocked shots at 7.5 per game and finished tied for second during the regular season at 5.9.

OKC entered Game 4 averaging 5.7 blocks against the Mavericks, who ranked second in the league in blocked shots allowed at 3.7 per game. Thunder forward Serge Ibaka is the individual leader in the playoffs at 3.07 bpg but failed to block a shot against the Mavs in the first two games.

"Dallas does not take a lot of shots around the paint, but we've had opportunities where we did not get there (to block a shot)," Brooks said. "It's not just Serge, it's all the guys. Everybody has to chip in their one (block). Kevin has a chance to get two or three a game with his length, his quickness and his timing.

"Dallas does take a lot of jumps shots, and we understand that. It's more important to be a shot-contesting, more than a shot-blocking team against Dallas."

The Thunder blocked nine shots Monday with Ibaka leading the way with five.