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The Heat earned a crushing 146-114 win against the Grizzlies in their first basketball match after player Terry Rozier was arrested over suspected unlawful sports betting.

Trail Blazers coach Billups was additionally arrested as part of a sweeping FBI probe into illegal gambling. Both men contest the allegations.

However, the Heat were not distracted as they scored eighty-six first-half scores to be ahead of Memphis by thirty-nine after two quarters, the biggest halftime lead in the team's 37 year existence.

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

"We stand behind him. Full support," Adebayo stated. "You support him through and through. That's our brother at the end of the day."

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra added: "Terry 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 faces the situation."

Portland also secured their first game since the arrests, with Brazilian Splitter stepping in as temporary head coach in Billups' non-attendance and guiding the team to a convincing 139-119 victory over the Warriors.

"We all had great experiences with Billups and how he coached," Splitter remarked. "Our thoughts are with him and his family but our focus is on the game."

League Commissioner Adam Silver 'Upset' over Arrests

Addressing the detentions for the initial occasion, league head Silver stated he was "very upset" by the events of the past few days.

"Nothing is more critical to the league and supporters than the fairness of the competition," he informed a broadcaster. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting."

The commissioner also said an NBA investigation into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a match he participated for the Hornets versus the Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"It was brought to our attention by the authorities and the gambling firms," he added.

"We investigated the matter and were open regarding it. And while there was the unusual wagering, we, frankly, found no evidence.

"The federal government has subpoena power... [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. And, of course, what they revealed yesterday was an charge.

"Moreover two and a half years later, he still hasn't been convicted of anything, in fairness to Rozier.

"Obviously, it appears unfavorable, but he's been suspended, and so it is a balance in this case between protecting people's rights and investigating."

Additional League Results

Elsewhere, Lakers star Doncic recorded more than 40 points for the consecutive match straight to start the season.

After scoring 43 scores in a first defeat to the Warriors, the Slovenian achieved 49 points - to go with 11 boards and eight assists - as the Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 128 to 110.

Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a strong performance with 31 points, 20 boards and 7 assists in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122-116 victory at the Raptors.

Rockets were beaten 115 to 111 by the Pistons even with thirty-seven points from Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 points, eleven rebounds and 9 rejections in the Spurs' overtime win against the Pelicans.