The Grizzlies return home for a three-game homestand for the next seven days due to the NBA Cup Knockout Round schedule. The rest and homestand are much needed for a team that has played nine of its last 11 games on the road. It also helps that Ja Morant's injury was updated to day-to-day as he looks to return from a calf strain.
He will remain out for his ninth consecutive game against the Los Angeles Clippers on December 5th, but his return appears to be close as he was spotted at the Grizzlies' practice the day before. Despite his absence and the road-heavy slate, the Grizzlies have won five of their last seven games, including four on the road.
One of those wins came against the same Clippers team they will see again on Friday night, and a key stat from that game has held true in all of their last seven games.
The Grizzlies have been a better second half team
Winning five out of seven games has helped the Grizzlies close the gap on the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors, trailing by only 1.5 games. Even more impressive is the second-half winner deciding all of the Grizzlies' last seven games, with them coming out on top over 71% of the time.
The Grizzlies averaged 60.9 points in the second half in their last seven games, which would rank tied for second in the NBA if that was their season average. They currently rank 21st in the NBA with a 57.3 second-half scoring average, a number they have surpassed in all but one of their last seven games.
Their last game against the Clippers a week ago saw them overcome a 13-point halftime deficit with 62 second-half points to win 112-107. As important as their second half has been to outscoring their opponents on the offensive end, the defense has been just as important recently. The Grizzlies have held four of their last seven opponents to under 50 points in the second half.
In fact, their two losses are the only games in which their opponents scored more than 60 second-half points. They currently rank 17th in the NBA, allowing an average of 57.3 points against them in the second half. That number is 52.9 average over their last seven games, giving them an average margin of +8.
The Grizzlies appear to be trending in the right direction, performing well when the game settles in after halftime. If the Grizzlies can keep up their second-half level from the last seven games, they will be back over .500 in no time and ready to compete with the best in the Western Conference.