🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat earned a overwhelming 146-114 win over the Grizzlies in their initial NBA game since player Rozier was arrested for alleged unlawful sports betting.

Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also detained as part of a broad federal probe into illegal gambling. Both men contest the claims.

However, the Miami team were not distracted as they put up eighty-six opening half scores to be ahead of Memphis by thirty-nine after two quarters, the biggest halftime lead in the team's 37 year history.

Adebayo led the way with 24 points and later stated Terry had the support of the team.

"We support him. Complete backing," Bam said. "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 everyone. He's had a real positive impact on our team.

"We send our thoughts and support for him as he faces this."

Portland also won their initial match since the detentions, with Brazilian Tiago Splitter taking over as temporary head coach in Billups' absence and guiding the team to a decisive 139-119 win over the Warriors.

"Everyone experienced great experiences with Billups and his coaching style," Splitter remarked. "We're thinking of him and his loved ones but our focus is on the game."

League Commissioner Adam Silver 'Disturbed' by Arrests

Addressing the detentions for the first time, league head Silver stated he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the recent days.

"There's nothing more important to the NBA and supporters than the fairness of the game," he told a broadcaster. "And so I felt uneasy. It was disturbing."

Silver further mentioned an NBA investigation into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a match he participated for the Hornets versus the New Orleans Pelicans, found nothing untoward.

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

"We then looked into the matter and were open about it. And while there was the unusual wagering, we, frankly, couldn't find anything.

"The federal government has legal authority... [it] can impose penalties, can do all kinds of things that the league office is unable to.

"Therefore, we've been working with them since then. And, of course, what they announced yesterday was an indictment.

"And 30 months after, he has not been found guilty of any offense, in justice to Rozier.

"Obviously, it doesn't look good, but he's been put on administrative leave, and so it is a compromise in this case between protecting people's rights and investigating."

Other League Results

In other games, Los Angeles Lakers player Luka Doncic recorded more than 40 scores for the consecutive match straight to start the season.

Following scoring forty-three points in a first defeat to the Golden State, the European star achieved 49 scores - to go with 11 rebounds and eight passes - as the Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

From Greece player Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a big night with 31 points, twenty boards and 7 passes in the Bucks' 122 to 116 victory over the Raptors.

Rockets were defeated 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons even with thirty-seven points from Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had twenty-nine scores, eleven rebounds and 9 blocks in the San Antonio Spurs' extra-time victory against the Pelicans.