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Miami Heat secured a overwhelming 146 to 114 victory over the Grizzlies in their initial basketball match since guard Terry Rozier was arrested over alleged unlawful sports betting.

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

However, the Heat were not distracted as they scored eighty-six first-half scores to be ahead of Memphis by thirty-nine at halftime, the largest halftime lead in the franchise's 37-year history.

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

"We stand behind him. Complete backing," Adebayo stated. "You support him through and through. He's like family at the end of the day."

Miami head coach Spoelstra added: "Rozier is a person who is important to everyone. He has made a beneficial influence on our locker room.

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

Portland also secured their first game since the arrests, with Brazil-born Tiago Splitter taking over as interim coach in Chauncey's absence and guiding the team to a convincing 139 to 119 win against the Golden State Warriors.

"Everyone experienced positive times with Billups and how he coached," Tiago said. "Our thoughts are with him and his loved ones but we have a job to do."

League Commissioner Silver 'Upset' over Recent Events

Addressing the arrests for the first time, league head Adam Silver stated he was "very upset" by the incidents of the recent days.

"There's nothing more important to the league and supporters than the integrity of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was disturbing."

The commissioner further said an league probe into the player's conduct in spring 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a match he participated for the Charlotte Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"We were informed by the authorities and the gambling firms," he continued.

"We investigated the matter and were very transparent regarding it. Although there was that aberrational betting, we, honestly, found no evidence.

"The federal government has legal authority... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can do all kinds of things that the NBA can't do.

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

"And 30 months later, he has not been found guilty of anything, in fairness to Rozier.

"Obviously, it appears unfavorable, but he's been suspended, and so it is a compromise here between upholding rights and investigating."

Other NBA Outcomes

In other games, Lakers star Luka Doncic scored over forty scores for the second game straight to begin the campaign.

Following scoring forty-three points in a first loss to the Golden State, the Slovenian achieved forty-nine scores - to go with 11 rebounds and eight assists - as the Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 128 to 110.

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

Houston Rockets were defeated 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons even with thirty-seven points from Kevin Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had twenty-nine scores, eleven boards and nine blocks in the Spurs' extra-time victory over the Pelicans.