🔗 Share this article

The Heat claimed a crushing 146 to 114 win against the Grizzlies in their first NBA game after guard Rozier was arrested over alleged illegal sports betting.

Trail Blazers head coach Billups was also arrested as part of a broad FBI investigation into sports betting. Both men contest the claims.

However, the Heat were focused as they put up 86 first-half points to lead the Grizzlies by thirty-nine at halftime, the largest half-time advantage in the team's 37 year history.

Adebayo top-scored with 24 points and afterwards stated Rozier had the team's full backing.

"We support him. Complete backing," Adebayo said. "We are with him all the way. That's our brother ultimately."

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra commented: "Terry is a person who is important to all of us. He has made a beneficial influence on our locker room.

"Our thoughts are with him and support for him as he faces the situation."

The Trail Blazers additionally secured their first game since the detentions, with Brazilian Tiago Splitter taking over as temporary head coach in Billups' absence and leading the squad to a convincing 139-119 win over the Golden State Warriors.

"We all had great experiences with Billups and how he coached," Tiago said. "We're thinking of him and his loved ones but we have a job to do."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver 'Disturbed' by Arrests

Speaking about the detentions for the first time, league head Silver said he was "very upset" 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 told Amazon Prime. "And so I felt uneasy. It was very upsetting."

Silver further mentioned an league probe into Rozier's actions in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a game he participated for the Charlotte Hornets versus the Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

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

"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 subpoena power... [it] can impose penalties, can do all kinds of things that the NBA is unable to.

"Therefore, we've been cooperating from that point. And, of course, what they announced recently was an indictment.

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

"Clearly, it doesn't look good, but he's been suspended, and so it is a compromise in this case between protecting people's rights and investigating."

Additional League Results

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers star Doncic recorded over forty scores for the second game in a row to start the season.

After scoring 43 scores in a first defeat to the Warriors, the Slovenian achieved 49 scores - along with eleven rebounds and 8 passes - as the Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo additionally had a big night with thirty-one points, twenty rebounds and seven passes in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122 to 116 victory at the Raptors.

Rockets were beaten 115 to 111 by the Detroit Pistons even with 37 points from Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had 29 scores, 11 rebounds and 9 rejections in the Spurs' overtime win over the Pelicans.