🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat earned a crushing 146 to 114 victory against the Grizzlies in their first NBA match after guard Terry Rozier was arrested over alleged unlawful gambling.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Billups was also arrested in connection with a extensive federal probe into sports betting. Both men deny the claims.

However, the Miami team were focused as they put up 86 first-half scores to be ahead of the Grizzlies by thirty-nine after two quarters, the biggest half-time advantage in the team's 37 year existence.

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

"We support him. Complete backing," Bam stated. "We are with him all the way. He's like family ultimately."

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra added: "Terry is somebody who is very dear to everyone. He has made a beneficial influence on our locker room.

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

The Trail Blazers also won their first game after the arrests, with Brazil-born Splitter stepping in as temporary head coach in Chauncey's non-attendance and leading the squad to a decisive 139-119 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

"Everyone experienced great experiences with Chauncey 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' over Recent Events

Addressing the detentions for the first time, league head Adam Silver said he was "very upset" by the events of the past few days.

"Nothing is more critical to the NBA and supporters than the fairness of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "And so I felt uneasy. It was disturbing."

Silver also mentioned an NBA investigation into Rozier's conduct in spring 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a match he played for the Hornets against the Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"It was brought to our attention by the regulators and the gambling firms," he continued.

"We investigated that situation and were very transparent regarding it. Although there was that aberrational betting, we, frankly, found no evidence.

"Federal authorities has legal authority... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can do all kinds of things that the NBA can't do.

"So, we've been cooperating since then. And, of course, what they revealed yesterday was an indictment.

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

"Clearly, it doesn't look good, but he's been suspended, and so it is a compromise in this case between protecting people's rights and investigating."

Other NBA Outcomes

Elsewhere, Lakers player Luka Doncic scored more than 40 scores for the second game straight to begin the campaign.

Following racking up 43 scores in a first defeat to the Warriors, the European star achieved forty-nine points - to go with 11 boards and 8 assists - as the Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo additionally had a big night with thirty-one points, 20 boards and 7 assists in the Bucks' 122 to 116 win at the Toronto Raptors.

Rockets were beaten 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons even with thirty-seven scores from Kevin Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 points, eleven rebounds and 9 blocks in the Spurs' overtime win against the Pelicans.