🔗 Share this article

The Heat secured a crushing 146-114 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies in their initial basketball game since player Terry Rozier was arrested for alleged illegal gambling.

Trail Blazers coach Billups was additionally arrested in connection with a sweeping federal investigation into illegal gambling. Both men contest the claims.

But, the Miami team were not distracted as they scored 86 first-half points to lead the Grizzlies by 39 after two quarters, the biggest halftime lead in the team's 37 year existence.

Adebayo led the way with 24 points and afterwards said Rozier had the team's full backing.

"We support him. Complete backing," Adebayo stated. "You support him through and through. He's like family at the end of the day."

Miami head coach Spoelstra added: "Rozier is a person who is important to all of us. He has made a real positive impact on our locker room.

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

Portland additionally won their first game since the arrests, with Brazil-born Tiago Splitter taking over as interim coach in Billups' absence and guiding the squad to a decisive 139-119 win over the Golden State Warriors.

"We all had positive times with Billups and how he coached," Tiago remarked. "We're thinking of him and his loved ones but our focus is on the game."

League Commissioner Adam Silver 'Disturbed' over Arrests

Addressing the detentions for the initial occasion, NBA commissioner Silver said he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the past few days.

"There's nothing more important to the league and its fans than the fairness of the game," he informed a broadcaster. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting."

Silver further said an league probe into the player's conduct in spring 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a match he played for the Hornets versus the Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

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

"We then looked into that situation and were very transparent about it. Although there was the unusual wagering, we, honestly, found no evidence.

"The federal government has legal authority... [it] can impose penalties, can take various actions that the NBA is unable to.

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

"And two and a half years later, he has not been found guilty of anything, in justice to Rozier.

"Clearly, it doesn't look good, but he's been put on administrative leave, and so it is a compromise here between protecting people's rights and conducting an inquiry."

Additional NBA Outcomes

In other games, Lakers player Luka Doncic recorded more than 40 points for the second game straight to start the season.

Following scoring forty-three points in a season-opening defeat to the Warriors, the European star put up 49 scores - to go with 11 rebounds and 8 assists - as the Los Angeles defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo also had a big night with thirty-one points, 20 rebounds and seven passes in the Bucks' 122 to 116 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Houston Rockets were defeated 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons despite thirty-seven scores from Durant, while Wembanyama had twenty-nine scores, eleven boards and 9 blocks in the Spurs' extra-time victory against the Pelicans.