🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat secured a overwhelming 146-114 victory over the Grizzlies in their initial basketball game after player Terry Rozier was detained for suspected illegal sports betting.

Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was also detained in connection with a sweeping federal investigation into illegal gambling. The two individuals deny the claims.

However, the Heat were focused as they put up 86 first-half points to lead the Grizzlies by 39 at halftime, the biggest halftime lead in the team's 37 year history.

Adebayo led the way with twenty-four points and afterwards stated Terry had the support of the team.

"We support him. Full support," Bam said. "You support him through and through. He's like family at the end of the day."

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra commented: "Terry is somebody who is important to all of us. He has made a real positive impact on our team.

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

The Trail Blazers also secured their first game after the detentions, with Brazilian Splitter taking over as temporary head 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 Billups and his coaching style," Splitter remarked. "We're thinking of him and his family but we have a job to do."

League Commissioner Silver 'Upset' over Arrests

Speaking about the detentions for the first time, NBA commissioner Silver said he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the recent days.

"Nothing is more critical to the NBA and its fans than the integrity of the competition," he told a broadcaster. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was disturbing."

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

"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. And while there was the unusual wagering, we, frankly, found no evidence.

"Federal authorities has subpoena power... [it] can impose penalties, can do all kinds of things that the league office can't do.

"Therefore, we've been working with them since then. Naturally, what they revealed recently was an indictment.

"And 30 months later, he has not been found guilty of any offense, in justice to Terry.

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

Additional NBA Outcomes

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers star Doncic scored more than 40 scores for the consecutive match in a row to begin the campaign.

Following scoring 43 points in a first defeat to the Golden State, the Slovenian achieved forty-nine scores - along with eleven rebounds and 8 assists - as the Los Angeles defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

Greek player Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a big night with 31 scores, twenty rebounds and 7 passes in the Bucks' 122-116 win at the Raptors.

Rockets were beaten 115 to 111 by the Pistons despite 37 scores from Kevin Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 points, 11 boards and 9 rejections in the Spurs' overtime win over the Pelicans.