🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat earned a crushing 146 to 114 win against the Memphis Grizzlies in their first basketball game since player Terry Rozier was arrested for suspected unlawful sports betting.

Trail Blazers coach Billups was also detained in connection with a broad federal probe into illegal gambling. Both men deny the allegations.

But, the Miami team were not distracted as they recorded 86 opening half points to be ahead of Memphis by 39 at halftime, the largest halftime lead in the team's 37-year history.

Bam Adebayo led the way with 24 scores and afterwards stated Terry had the team's full backing.

"We stand behind him. Full support," Bam stated. "We are with him all the way. That's our brother ultimately."

Heat coach Spoelstra commented: "Terry is somebody who is very dear to all of us. He has made a beneficial influence on our team.

"Our thoughts are with him and our care for him as he faces this."

Portland also won their initial match after the arrests, with Brazilian Tiago Splitter stepping in as temporary head coach in Chauncey's non-attendance and guiding the team to a convincing 139-119 victory against the Warriors.

"Everyone experienced great experiences with Billups and his coaching style," Splitter said. "Our thoughts are with him and his loved ones but our focus is on the game."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver 'Upset' by Recent Events

Addressing the arrests for the initial occasion, league head Silver said he was "deeply disturbed" by the events of the recent days.

"Nothing is more critical to the league and supporters than the integrity of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "And so I felt uneasy. It was very upsetting."

The commissioner also said an league probe into Rozier's actions in spring 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a game he played for the Hornets versus the Pelicans, found nothing untoward.

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

"We investigated that situation and were very transparent about it. Although there was that aberrational betting, we, honestly, couldn't find anything.

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

"Therefore, we've been working with them since then. Naturally, what they announced recently was an indictment.

"And two and a half years after, he still hasn't been convicted of anything, in justice to Terry.

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

Other NBA Results

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic recorded more than 40 scores for the consecutive match straight to start the season.

After racking up 43 points in a first defeat to the Warriors, the European star achieved 49 scores - along with eleven rebounds and eight assists - as the Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a big night with 31 scores, twenty boards and 7 assists in the Bucks' 122-116 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Houston Rockets were defeated 115 to 111 by the Detroit Pistons even with 37 points from Kevin Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had twenty-nine points, 11 rebounds and nine rejections in the San Antonio Spurs' overtime win against the Pelicans.