🔗 Share this article

The Heat claimed a crushing 146-114 win against the Memphis Grizzlies in their first NBA game after guard Terry Rozier was detained over alleged unlawful gambling.

Trail Blazers head coach Billups was additionally arrested in connection with a sweeping FBI investigation into sports betting. The two individuals contest the allegations.

But, the Miami team were focused as they recorded eighty-six first-half points to lead Memphis by thirty-nine at halftime, the biggest halftime lead in the franchise's 37 year history.

Adebayo top-scored with 24 points and later said Terry had the support of the team.

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

Heat coach Spoelstra added: "Rozier is somebody who is very dear to everyone. He's had a real positive impact on our team.

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

Portland also won their first game since the arrests, with Brazil-born Tiago Splitter taking over as interim coach in Billups' non-attendance and guiding the squad to a convincing 139-119 victory over the Warriors.

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

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver 'Upset' over Recent Events

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

"There's nothing more important to the NBA and its fans than the integrity of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting."

The commissioner further said an league probe into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a game he played for the Hornets versus the Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"It was brought to our attention by the regulators and the betting companies," he added.

"We then looked into the matter and were very transparent about it. And while there was the unusual wagering, we, honestly, found no evidence.

"Federal authorities has subpoena power... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can take various actions that the league office is unable to.

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

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

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

Other League Results

In other games, Lakers star Doncic scored more than 40 scores for the second game straight to start the season.

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

Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a strong performance with thirty-one points, 20 boards and 7 passes in the Bucks' 122 to 116 win over the Raptors.

Rockets were beaten 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons despite thirty-seven scores from Kevin Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 scores, eleven boards and 9 blocks in the San Antonio Spurs' extra-time victory over the Pelicans.