🔗 Share this article

Miami Heat secured a decisive 146-114 victory against the Grizzlies in their first NBA match since player Terry Rozier was detained for alleged illegal gambling.

Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was also detained in connection with a broad FBI investigation into sports betting. Both men deny the allegations.

However, the Miami team were focused as they scored 86 first-half scores to be ahead of Memphis by 39 at halftime, the largest half-time advantage in the franchise's 37-year existence.

Adebayo top-scored with twenty-four scores and later said Terry had the support of the team.

"We stand behind him. Full support," Adebayo said. "We are with him all the way. He's like family ultimately."

Heat coach Spoelstra added: "Terry is a person who is very dear to all of us. He has made a real positive impact on our locker room.

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

The Trail Blazers additionally secured their first game since the arrests, with Brazil-born Tiago Splitter stepping in as interim coach in Billups' non-attendance and guiding the team to a convincing 139-119 win against the Warriors.

"Everyone experienced great experiences with Chauncey and how he coached," Tiago said. "Our thoughts are with him and his family but we have a job to do."

NBA Commissioner Silver 'Disturbed' by Arrests

Speaking about the detentions for the initial occasion, NBA commissioner Silver said he was "very upset" by the events of the recent days.

"Nothing is more critical to the league and its fans than the fairness of the competition," he informed a broadcaster. "And so I felt uneasy. It was very upsetting."

Silver also mentioned an league probe into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a match he participated for the Charlotte Hornets versus the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"It was brought to our attention by the authorities and the betting companies," he continued.

"We then looked into that situation and were open about it. Although there was the unusual wagering, we, frankly, found no evidence.

"Federal authorities has legal authority... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can take various actions that the NBA can't do.

"Therefore, we've been cooperating from that point. And, of course, what they revealed yesterday was an charge.

"And 30 months later, he still hasn't been convicted of anything, in fairness to Rozier.

"Obviously, it doesn't look good, but he's been suspended, and so it is a balance in this case between upholding rights and investigating."

Additional League Outcomes

In other games, Los Angeles Lakers star Doncic recorded over forty scores for the second game straight to start the season.

After racking up 43 points in a first loss to the Golden State, the Slovenian achieved forty-nine scores - to go with eleven boards and eight assists - as the Los Angeles defeated the Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek player Antetokounmpo also had a strong performance with 31 scores, 20 rebounds and 7 assists in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122-116 win at the Raptors.

Houston Rockets were beaten 115 to 111 by the Detroit Pistons despite 37 points from Kevin Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had twenty-nine scores, eleven rebounds and 9 blocks in the San Antonio Spurs' extra-time victory against the New Orleans.