🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat secured a decisive 146-114 win against the Memphis Grizzlies in their initial NBA game after player Terry Rozier was detained for suspected illegal gambling.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also detained as part of a broad FBI investigation into illegal gambling. Both men deny the claims.

But, the Miami team were not distracted as they recorded eighty-six first-half scores to be ahead of Memphis by 39 at halftime, the biggest half-time advantage in the franchise's 37 year existence.

Bam Adebayo led the way with twenty-four scores and later said Terry had the team's full backing.

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

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra commented: "Rozier is a person who is important to all of us. He's had a beneficial influence on our team.

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

The Trail Blazers additionally secured their first game after the arrests, with Brazilian Splitter taking over as interim coach in Billups' absence and guiding the squad to a convincing 139 to 119 win over the Golden State Warriors.

"Everyone experienced positive times with Chauncey and his coaching style," Tiago remarked. "Our thoughts are with him and his loved ones but we have a job to do."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver 'Disturbed' by Arrests

Addressing the detentions for the initial occasion, league head Adam Silver said he was "very upset" by the events of the past few days.

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

Silver further mentioned an league probe into Rozier's actions in March 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a match he played for the Charlotte Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans, found nothing untoward.

"It was brought to our attention by the authorities and the betting companies," he continued.

"We then looked into the matter and were very transparent regarding it. And while there was that aberrational betting, we, frankly, found no evidence.

"The federal government has legal authority... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can take various actions that the league office can't do.

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

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

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

Other League Outcomes

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic scored over forty scores for the second game straight to begin the campaign.

After scoring 43 scores in a season-opening loss to the Golden State, the European star put up 49 scores - along with eleven rebounds and eight assists - as the Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

From Greece player Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a strong performance with thirty-one points, 20 boards and 7 passes in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122-116 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Rockets were defeated 115 to 111 by the Pistons despite thirty-seven scores from Durant, while Wembanyama had twenty-nine points, eleven rebounds and nine blocks in the Spurs' extra-time victory against the Pelicans.