🔗 Share this article

The Heat claimed a crushing 146-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in their first NBA match after guard Rozier was arrested for alleged unlawful sports betting.

Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested as part of a sweeping federal probe into illegal gambling. The two individuals deny the allegations.

However, the Miami team were focused as they scored 86 first-half scores to lead Memphis by 39 after two quarters, the biggest halftime lead in the team's 37 year existence.

Bam Adebayo top-scored with twenty-four scores and afterwards said Rozier had the support of the team.

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

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

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

The Trail Blazers also won their initial match since the arrests, with Brazil-born Tiago Splitter stepping in as temporary head coach in Billups' absence and leading the team to a convincing 139-119 victory against the Golden State Warriors.

"Everyone experienced positive times with Billups and how he coached," Splitter remarked. "We're thinking of him and his loved ones but we have a job to do."

League Commissioner Silver 'Disturbed' over Recent Events

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

"Nothing is more critical to the league and supporters than the fairness of the game," he told Amazon Prime. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was disturbing."

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

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

"We then looked into the matter and were open about it. Although there was the unusual wagering, we, honestly, 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 is unable to.

"So, we've been working with them from that point. Naturally, what they announced yesterday was an indictment.

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

"Obviously, it doesn't look good, but he's been put on administrative leave, and so it is a balance here between upholding rights and conducting an inquiry."

Additional NBA Outcomes

Elsewhere, Lakers star Luka Doncic scored over forty points for the consecutive match in a row to begin the campaign.

After scoring 43 scores in a season-opening defeat to the Warriors, the Slovenian achieved 49 scores - along with 11 boards and eight assists - as the Lakers beat the Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo also had a strong performance with 31 scores, 20 rebounds and seven passes in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122-116 victory over the Raptors.

Houston Rockets were beaten 115 to 111 by the Pistons even with thirty-seven scores from Kevin Durant, while Wembanyama had twenty-nine scores, 11 boards and nine rejections in the San Antonio Spurs' extra-time victory against the Pelicans.