🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat secured a decisive 146 to 114 victory against the Grizzlies in their first basketball game since player Terry Rozier was arrested for alleged illegal sports betting.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also detained as part of a broad FBI investigation into sports betting. The two individuals deny the allegations.

However, the Miami team were not distracted as they put up eighty-six opening half points to be ahead of the Grizzlies by thirty-nine after two quarters, the largest half-time advantage in the team's 37 year existence.

Bam Adebayo led the way with twenty-four points and afterwards said Rozier had the team's full backing.

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

Miami head coach Spoelstra commented: "Rozier is somebody who is important to all of us. He's had a real positive impact on our team.

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

Portland also secured their initial match after the detentions, with Brazilian Tiago Splitter taking over as interim coach in Chauncey's absence and leading the team to a decisive 139 to 119 victory over the Warriors.

"We all had positive times with Chauncey and his coaching style," Tiago said. "Our thoughts are with him and his loved ones but we have a job to do."

League Commissioner Silver 'Disturbed' over Recent Events

Addressing the detentions for the first time, league head Silver said he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the recent days.

"There's nothing more important to the NBA and its fans than the fairness of the game," he told a broadcaster. "Therefore I felt uneasy. It was disturbing."

Silver further mentioned an NBA investigation into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a match he participated for the Hornets versus the Pelicans, found nothing untoward.

"We were informed by the regulators and the gambling firms," he added.

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

"The federal government has subpoena power... [it] can impose penalties, can take various actions that the NBA can't do.

"Therefore, we've been cooperating from that point. Naturally, what they revealed recently was an indictment.

"And two and a half years after, he still hasn't been convicted of any offense, in justice to Rozier.

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

Other League Outcomes

In other games, Lakers star Luka Doncic scored more than 40 scores for the second game straight to start the season.

After scoring forty-three scores in a first loss to the Warriors, the Slovenian achieved forty-nine scores - to go with 11 rebounds and 8 assists - as the Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

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

Rockets were beaten 115 to 111 by the Detroit Pistons even with 37 points from Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 scores, eleven rebounds and nine rejections in the San Antonio Spurs' overtime win against the Pelicans.