🔗 Share this article

The Heat secured a decisive 146 to 114 victory against the Grizzlies in their first NBA match after guard Rozier was arrested over alleged unlawful sports betting.

Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested as part of a sweeping federal probe into sports betting. Both men deny the allegations.

But, the Miami team were focused as they recorded 86 first-half scores to be ahead of Memphis by 39 after two quarters, the largest half-time advantage in the franchise's 37-year existence.

Bam Adebayo led the way with 24 scores and later stated Terry had the team's full backing.

"We support him. Complete backing," Adebayo stated. "We are with him all the way. That's our brother at the end of the day."

Heat coach Spoelstra commented: "Terry is somebody who is very dear to all of us. He has made a beneficial influence on our locker room.

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

The Trail Blazers also won their first game after the detentions, with Brazil-born Tiago Splitter taking over as temporary head coach in Chauncey's non-attendance and leading the squad to a decisive 139-119 win over the Warriors.

"We all had positive times with Billups and how he coached," Tiago said. "Our thoughts are with him and his loved ones but we have a job to do."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver 'Disturbed' by Arrests

Speaking about the arrests for the first time, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the past few days.

"Nothing is more critical to the NBA and its fans than the integrity of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "Therefore I felt uneasy. It was very upsetting."

The commissioner further said an NBA investigation into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a match he participated for the Charlotte Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"We were informed by the regulators and the betting companies," he continued.

"We investigated the matter and were open regarding it. And while there was the unusual wagering, we, honestly, found no evidence.

"The federal government has legal authority... [it] can impose penalties, can do all kinds of things that the league office can't do.

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

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

"Clearly, it appears unfavorable, but he's been put on administrative leave, and so it is a balance here between protecting people's rights and conducting an inquiry."

Other NBA Results

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers star Doncic recorded over forty scores for the consecutive match straight to start the season.

Following scoring forty-three points in a season-opening defeat to the Warriors, the European star achieved 49 points - to go with eleven rebounds and eight assists - as the Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

Greek player Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a strong performance with thirty-one points, 20 rebounds and seven passes in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122-116 win at the Toronto Raptors.

Rockets were beaten 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons even with 37 scores from Durant, while Wembanyama had twenty-nine points, 11 boards and 9 rejections in the San Antonio Spurs' extra-time victory over the Pelicans.