🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat secured a crushing 146-114 win over the Grizzlies in their initial basketball game after guard Terry Rozier was detained for alleged unlawful gambling.

Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested in connection with a sweeping FBI investigation into illegal gambling. The two individuals contest the claims.

But, the Heat were focused as they recorded eighty-six first-half points to lead the Grizzlies by thirty-nine at halftime, the largest halftime lead in the franchise'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. Full support," Bam stated. "You support him through and through. He's like family ultimately."

Heat coach Spoelstra added: "Rozier is a person 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 faces this."

Portland also won their initial match since the arrests, with Brazil-born Splitter taking over as temporary head coach in Billups' absence and guiding the team to a decisive 139-119 win against the Golden State Warriors.

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

League Commissioner Silver 'Upset' by Arrests

Speaking about the arrests for the initial occasion, NBA commissioner Silver said he was "very upset" by the incidents of the recent days.

"There's nothing more important to the league and supporters than the fairness of the competition," he told a broadcaster. "Therefore I felt uneasy. It was disturbing."

Silver further said an league probe into the player's conduct in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a match he participated for the Hornets versus the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"We were informed by the regulators and the betting companies," he added.

"We investigated the matter and were open about it. And while there was the unusual wagering, 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 league office can't do.

"Therefore, we've been working with them from that point. Naturally, what they announced recently was an indictment.

"Moreover 30 months later, he has not been found guilty of any offense, in fairness to Rozier.

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

Additional League Outcomes

In other games, Los Angeles Lakers player Luka Doncic scored over forty scores for the second game straight to begin the campaign.

Following racking up forty-three points in a season-opening defeat to the Golden State, the European star achieved forty-nine points - to go with eleven boards and 8 assists - as the Los Angeles beat the Timberwolves 128 to 110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo also had a strong performance with 31 scores, 20 boards and seven passes in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122 to 116 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Rockets were defeated 115 to 111 by the Pistons even with thirty-seven points from Kevin Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 9 blocks in the Spurs' extra-time victory against the New Orleans.