🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat earned a overwhelming 146-114 win against the Memphis Grizzlies in their first basketball match since player Terry Rozier was arrested over suspected unlawful gambling.

Trail Blazers coach Billups was also detained in connection with a extensive FBI probe into illegal gambling. Both men contest the claims.

However, the Heat were not distracted as they recorded eighty-six opening half scores to be ahead of the Grizzlies by thirty-nine at halftime, the biggest halftime lead in the team's 37-year existence.

Adebayo led the way with twenty-four points and later said Rozier had the team's full backing.

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

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

"Our thoughts are with him and support for him as he goes through this."

Portland also won their first game after the detentions, with Brazil-born Splitter stepping in as temporary head coach in Billups' non-attendance and leading the team to a decisive 139 to 119 victory over the Warriors.

"Everyone experienced great experiences with Billups and how he coached," Tiago remarked. "We're thinking of him and his family but our focus is on the game."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver 'Disturbed' over Recent Events

Addressing the arrests for the first time, league head Adam Silver stated he was "deeply disturbed" by the events of the past few days.

"There's nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "And so I felt uneasy. It was disturbing."

The commissioner further said an NBA investigation into the player's conduct in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a game he participated for the Hornets against the Pelicans, found nothing untoward.

"We were informed by the authorities and the betting companies," he continued.

"We then looked into that situation and were open about it. Although there was the unusual wagering, we, frankly, found no evidence.

"The federal government has legal authority... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can do all kinds of things that the league office is unable to.

"Therefore, we've been cooperating since then. Naturally, what they revealed yesterday was an indictment.

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

"Obviously, it appears unfavorable, but he's been put on administrative leave, and so it is a compromise in this case between protecting people's rights and investigating."

Additional League Outcomes

In other games, Los Angeles Lakers player Luka Doncic scored more than 40 scores for the second game in a row to start the season.

Following racking up forty-three points in a season-opening loss to the Golden State, the Slovenian put up 49 scores - along with eleven boards and eight passes - as the Los Angeles defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo also had a big night with thirty-one points, twenty boards and seven assists in the Bucks' 122-116 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Houston Rockets were defeated 115 to 111 by the Detroit Pistons despite thirty-seven points from Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 scores, eleven rebounds and 9 blocks in the Spurs' overtime win over the New Orleans.