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The Heat secured a crushing 146-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in their initial basketball match after guard Terry Rozier was arrested for alleged unlawful gambling.

Trail Blazers head coach Billups was also arrested in connection with a broad FBI investigation into illegal gambling. The two individuals deny the allegations.

But, the Miami team were focused as they recorded 86 opening half scores to lead the Grizzlies by thirty-nine at halftime, the biggest halftime lead in the team's 37 year existence.

Bam Adebayo top-scored with 24 scores and later stated Terry had the team's full backing.

"We support him. Complete backing," Adebayo stated. "You support him through and through. That's our brother ultimately."

Miami head coach Spoelstra commented: "Terry is a person who is very dear to all of us. He's had a real positive impact on our team.

"Our thoughts are with him and support for him as he faces the situation."

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 squad to a convincing 139 to 119 win over the Golden State Warriors.

"Everyone experienced positive times with Billups and his coaching style," Splitter remarked. "Our thoughts are with him and his family but we have a job to do."

NBA Commissioner Silver 'Upset' over Arrests

Speaking about the arrests for the first time, league head Silver said he was "very upset" by the events of the past few days.

"There's nothing more important to the NBA and supporters than the fairness of the competition," he informed Amazon Prime. "Therefore I felt uneasy. It was disturbing."

The commissioner also said an NBA investigation into Rozier's conduct in March 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a match he played for the Hornets against the Pelicans, found nothing untoward.

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

"We then looked into the matter and were very transparent about it. Although there was that aberrational betting, we, honestly, found no evidence.

"Federal authorities has subpoena power... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can take various actions that the league office can't do.

"Therefore, we've been working with them since then. And, of course, what they revealed recently was an charge.

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

"Obviously, it doesn't look good, but he's been suspended, and so it is a compromise here between protecting people's rights and conducting an inquiry."

Additional League Results

In other games, Lakers star Luka Doncic scored more than 40 scores for the second game in a row to begin the campaign.

After racking up forty-three scores in a season-opening defeat to the Warriors, the European star put up forty-nine points - to go with eleven boards and eight passes - as the Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-110.

From Greece forward Antetokounmpo also had a big night with 31 scores, twenty rebounds and 7 passes in the Bucks' 122 to 116 win over the Raptors.

Rockets were beaten 115 to 111 by the Pistons despite 37 points from Kevin Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 points, 11 boards and nine rejections in the Spurs' extra-time victory over the New Orleans.