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Miami Heat earned a crushing 146-114 victory over the Grizzlies in their first basketball game since guard Terry Rozier was arrested for suspected unlawful sports betting.

Trail Blazers coach Billups was additionally arrested in connection with a sweeping federal investigation into illegal gambling. Both men contest the allegations.

But, the Heat were focused as they scored 86 first-half points to lead the Grizzlies by 39 at halftime, the largest halftime lead in the team's 37 year history.

Bam Adebayo led the way with twenty-four scores and afterwards said Terry had the team's full backing.

"We support him. Complete backing," Bam stated. "You support him through and through. He's like family ultimately."

Miami head coach Spoelstra added: "Terry is somebody who is very dear to everyone. He's had a real positive impact on our team.

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

Portland also won their initial match after the detentions, with Brazil-born Tiago Splitter stepping in as interim coach in Billups' absence and guiding the team to a convincing 139-119 win over the Warriors.

"Everyone experienced positive times with Billups and how he coached," Tiago remarked. "We're thinking of him and his loved ones but our focus is on the game."

NBA Commissioner Silver 'Disturbed' over Arrests

Addressing the detentions for the initial occasion, league head Adam Silver said he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the recent days.

"There's nothing more important to the NBA and its fans than the fairness of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting."

Silver further said an league probe into Rozier's actions in March 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a match he participated for the Charlotte Hornets against the Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

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

"We then looked into the matter and were very transparent about it. And while there was that aberrational betting, we, honestly, couldn't find anything.

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

"Therefore, we've been cooperating since then. And, of course, what they revealed yesterday was an charge.

"Moreover 30 months after, he still hasn't been convicted of any offense, in justice to Rozier.

"Clearly, it doesn't look good, but he's been suspended, and so it is a compromise here between upholding rights and investigating."

Other League Results

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers player Doncic scored more than 40 points for the second game in a row to begin the campaign.

Following racking up forty-three scores in a season-opening defeat to the Warriors, the European star achieved forty-nine points - along with 11 rebounds and eight assists - as the Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo additionally had a big night with thirty-one points, 20 rebounds and 7 assists in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122-116 victory at the Raptors.

Houston Rockets were defeated 115 to 111 by the Detroit Pistons despite thirty-seven scores from Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had twenty-nine points, eleven rebounds and 9 rejections in the San Antonio Spurs' extra-time victory over the New Orleans.