🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat earned a decisive 146 to 114 victory against the Grizzlies in their first NBA game since player Rozier was detained over suspected unlawful sports betting.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested in connection with a sweeping FBI investigation into sports betting. The two individuals deny the claims.

However, the Heat were not distracted as they scored 86 opening half scores to be ahead of the Grizzlies by thirty-nine at halftime, the largest halftime lead in the franchise's 37 year existence.

Adebayo led the way with 24 points and afterwards stated Terry had the team's full backing.

"We stand behind him. Full support," Bam said. "We are with him all the way. That's our brother ultimately."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra commented: "Rozier is a person who is very dear to all of us. He's had a beneficial influence on our locker room.

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

Portland also won their initial match since the arrests, with Brazil-born Splitter stepping in as interim coach in Billups' non-attendance and guiding the team to a convincing 139 to 119 win over 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."

League Commissioner Silver 'Upset' by Recent Events

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

"There's nothing more important to the league and its fans than the fairness of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "And so I felt uneasy. It was disturbing."

Silver further mentioned an NBA investigation into Rozier's conduct in March 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a game he participated for the Hornets versus the Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

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

"We investigated that situation and were open about it. And while there was that aberrational betting, we, frankly, 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 working with them since then. Naturally, what they revealed recently was an indictment.

"Moreover 30 months after, he has not been found guilty of any offense, in fairness to Rozier.

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

Other NBA Results

Elsewhere, Lakers player Luka Doncic scored more than 40 scores for the second game straight to start the season.

After scoring forty-three scores in a first defeat to the Warriors, the Slovenian achieved forty-nine points - to go with 11 boards and eight assists - as the Los Angeles defeated the Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo additionally had a big night with thirty-one points, 20 boards and 7 passes in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122 to 116 win at the Toronto Raptors.

Rockets were defeated 115 to 111 by the Pistons even with thirty-seven scores from Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 scores, eleven boards and nine blocks in the Spurs' extra-time victory against the Pelicans.