The major plotlines of the NBA Finals to this point have been Dirk Nowitzki's shooting prowess and LeBron James's Game 4 disappearing act.

Nobody, for the time being, is talking about the Dallas Mavericks' total inability to keep their hands off one another.

But if physical contact between teammates has some bearing on the outcome of a basketball game (more on that later), this series—which is deadlocked at 2-2 heading into Thursday's Game 5—may be all but over already.

Based on a review of ABC's broadcasts of the first three games of these Finals, The Wall Street Journal logged every moment when two teammates could be seen touching each other on camera, whether it was a high-five, a hug, a chest pat or a butt slap. The results couldn't be more definitive.

The Mavericks, with 250 slaps, hugs, taps or bumps, are almost twice as touchy-feely as the Heat, who had only 134 instances of televised contact. In those three games, the Mavericks were 82% more likely to high five.