🔗 Share this article

The Heat claimed a crushing 146-114 win against the Grizzlies in their initial NBA match since guard Terry Rozier was detained over alleged unlawful gambling.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was additionally detained in connection with a extensive FBI investigation into illegal gambling. Both men contest the allegations.

However, the Heat were focused as they recorded eighty-six first-half scores to lead the Grizzlies by thirty-nine after two quarters, the biggest halftime lead in the franchise's 37-year history.

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

"We stand behind him. Complete backing," Adebayo said. "You support him through and through. That's our brother at the end of the day."

Heat coach Spoelstra commented: "Terry is somebody who is important to all of us. He has made a beneficial influence on our team.

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

The Trail Blazers additionally won their initial match after the arrests, with Brazilian Tiago Splitter stepping in as temporary head coach in Billups' non-attendance and guiding the team to a convincing 139 to 119 win against the Golden State Warriors.

"We all had great experiences with Chauncey and his coaching style," Splitter said. "Our thoughts are with him and his family but our focus is on the game."

NBA Commissioner Silver 'Upset' over Arrests

Addressing the arrests for the initial occasion, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he was "deeply disturbed" by the events of the recent days.

"Nothing is more critical to the NBA and its fans than the integrity of the game," he told Amazon Prime. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting."

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

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

"We then looked into the matter and were very transparent about it. Although there was the unusual wagering, we, frankly, couldn't find anything.

"The federal government has subpoena power... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can do all kinds of things that the NBA can't do.

"So, we've been working with them since then. Naturally, what they revealed yesterday was an charge.

"Moreover two and a half years later, he still hasn't been convicted of any offense, in justice to Terry.

"Obviously, it appears unfavorable, but he's been suspended, and so it is a balance here between upholding rights and conducting an inquiry."

Additional League Results

In other games, Lakers player Luka Doncic scored more than 40 scores for the consecutive match straight to begin the campaign.

After racking up 43 scores in a season-opening loss to the Warriors, the European star achieved 49 points - to go with 11 boards and 8 assists - as the Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

Greek player Antetokounmpo also had a strong performance with 31 points, twenty rebounds and 7 passes in the Bucks' 122 to 116 victory at the Toronto Raptors.

Rockets were defeated 115 to 111 by the Pistons even with thirty-seven points from Kevin Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had twenty-nine scores, eleven boards and nine rejections in the Spurs' extra-time victory over the New Orleans.