🔗 Share this article

The Heat secured a decisive 146-114 win over the Grizzlies in their first basketball match after player Terry Rozier was detained for suspected illegal sports betting.

Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested as part of a sweeping FBI investigation into illegal gambling. Both men contest the allegations.

But, the Miami team were focused as they recorded eighty-six opening half points to lead Memphis by thirty-nine at halftime, the biggest half-time advantage in the franchise's 37-year history.

Adebayo top-scored with twenty-four points and afterwards stated Rozier had the team's full backing.

"We support him. Full support," Bam stated. "You support him through and through. He's like family ultimately."

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra added: "Terry is a person who is very dear to all of us. He's had a beneficial influence on our team.

"We send our thoughts and our care for him as he faces the situation."

Portland additionally won their initial match since the arrests, with Brazil-born Splitter stepping in as temporary head coach in Chauncey's non-attendance and guiding the team to a decisive 139 to 119 victory over the Warriors.

"Everyone experienced great experiences with Chauncey and how he coached," Splitter remarked. "Our thoughts are with him and his loved ones but we have a job to do."

NBA Commissioner Silver 'Disturbed' by Recent Events

Addressing the arrests for the initial occasion, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the past few days.

"There's nothing more important to the NBA and its fans than the fairness of the game," he informed Amazon Prime. "Therefore I had a pit in my stomach. It was disturbing."

The commissioner also said an league probe into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a game he participated for the Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"It was brought to our attention by the authorities and the betting companies," he added.

"We investigated the matter and were open about it. Although there was the unusual wagering, we, frankly, found no evidence.

"The federal government has legal authority... [it] can impose penalties, can do all kinds of things that the league office can't do.

"Therefore, we've been cooperating from that point. And, of course, what they revealed yesterday was an charge.

"Moreover 30 months after, he still hasn't been convicted of any offense, in justice to Terry.

"Clearly, it doesn't look good, but he's been put on administrative leave, and so it is a balance here between upholding rights and investigating."

Other League Results

In other games, Lakers player Doncic recorded over forty scores for the second game in a row to begin the campaign.

Following racking up 43 scores in a season-opening loss to the Warriors, the Slovenian achieved forty-nine points - along with eleven rebounds and 8 passes - as the Los Angeles defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

Greek player Antetokounmpo additionally had a strong performance with 31 scores, twenty rebounds and 7 passes in the Bucks' 122-116 win over the Raptors.

Houston Rockets were defeated 115-111 by the Pistons even with thirty-seven points from Kevin Durant, while Wembanyama had twenty-nine scores, eleven rebounds and 9 rejections in the San Antonio Spurs' extra-time victory over the New Orleans.