🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat earned a overwhelming 146 to 114 win against the Grizzlies in their initial basketball game after player Terry Rozier was arrested for alleged illegal gambling.

Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was additionally arrested as part of a extensive FBI probe into illegal gambling. Both men contest the allegations.

However, the Miami team were not distracted as they recorded eighty-six opening half points to be ahead of Memphis by 39 after two quarters, the largest halftime lead in the franchise's 37 year existence.

Bam Adebayo led the way with twenty-four points and afterwards said Terry had the support of the team.

"We stand behind him. Full support," Bam stated. "You support him through and through. That's our brother ultimately."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra added: "Terry is somebody who is important to everyone. He has made a beneficial influence on our team.

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

The Trail Blazers also won their first game since the arrests, with Brazil-born Tiago Splitter taking over as interim coach in Chauncey's non-attendance and guiding the team to a decisive 139 to 119 victory against the Warriors.

"We all had positive times with Billups and his coaching style," Splitter said. "We're thinking of him and his loved ones but we have a job to do."

NBA Commissioner Silver 'Upset' over Arrests

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

"Nothing is more critical to the league and its fans than the fairness of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "Therefore I felt uneasy. It was disturbing."

Silver further mentioned an league probe into Rozier's actions in spring 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a game he participated for the Charlotte Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"We were informed by the authorities and the gambling firms," he added.

"We investigated the matter and were very transparent about 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 is unable to.

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

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

"Obviously, it doesn't look good, but he's been suspended, and so it is a balance here between protecting people's rights and investigating."

Other NBA Outcomes

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

Following racking up 43 points in a first loss to the Warriors, the Slovenian achieved 49 scores - along with eleven boards and eight passes - as the Los Angeles defeated the Timberwolves 128 to 110.

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

Houston Rockets were defeated 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons despite 37 points from Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 points, 11 rebounds and nine rejections in the San Antonio Spurs' overtime win against the Pelicans.