🔗 Share this article

The Heat earned a crushing 146 to 114 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies in their initial NBA game after player Terry Rozier was detained over suspected illegal sports betting.

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

However, the Heat were not distracted as they scored 86 first-half scores to be ahead of Memphis by thirty-nine at halftime, the largest halftime lead in the franchise's 37 year history.

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

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

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

"We send our thoughts and our care for him as he goes through this."

The Trail Blazers also won their first game after the arrests, with Brazilian Splitter taking over as interim coach in Chauncey's non-attendance and guiding the squad to a decisive 139 to 119 victory against the Golden State Warriors.

"Everyone experienced great experiences with Chauncey and how he coached," Splitter remarked. "Our thoughts are with him and his family but we have a job to do."

League Commissioner Silver 'Disturbed' by Arrests

Speaking about the detentions for the initial occasion, NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the recent days.

"Nothing is more critical to the NBA and supporters than the integrity of the competition," he told Amazon Prime. "Therefore I felt uneasy. It was very upsetting."

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

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

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

"Federal authorities has legal authority... [it] can impose penalties, can take various actions that the league office can't do.

"So, we've been working with them from that point. Naturally, what they revealed yesterday was an indictment.

"Moreover 30 months after, he still hasn't been convicted of anything, in fairness to Rozier.

"Clearly, it appears unfavorable, but he's been suspended, and so it is a compromise in this case between upholding rights and investigating."

Other NBA Outcomes

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers player Luka Doncic recorded more than 40 scores for the second game straight to start the season.

Following scoring forty-three points in a first defeat to the Golden State, the Slovenian put up forty-nine points - to go with 11 rebounds and eight passes - as the Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 128-110.

From Greece forward Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a big night with 31 scores, twenty boards and 7 assists in the Bucks' 122 to 116 victory at the Raptors.

Houston Rockets were beaten 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons despite thirty-seven scores from Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 scores, 11 rebounds and 9 blocks in the San Antonio Spurs' extra-time victory over the New Orleans.