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The Heat earned a crushing 146-114 win against the Memphis Grizzlies in their first NBA game since guard Terry Rozier was arrested for alleged illegal sports betting.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Billups was also arrested in connection with a sweeping FBI investigation into sports betting. Both men contest the claims.

But, the Miami team were focused as they recorded 86 opening half scores to lead Memphis by 39 after two quarters, the largest halftime lead in the franchise's 37 year history.

Bam Adebayo led the way with 24 scores and afterwards stated Rozier had the team's full backing.

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

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra commented: "Rozier is a person who is very dear to all of us. He's had a beneficial influence on our team.

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

The Trail Blazers additionally secured their initial match after the arrests, with Brazil-born Splitter taking over as interim coach in Billups' absence and leading the team to a convincing 139 to 119 victory against the Golden State Warriors.

"We all had great experiences with Chauncey and how he coached," Tiago remarked. "We're thinking of him and his family but our focus is on the game."

League Commissioner Silver 'Disturbed' by Recent Events

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

"There's nothing more important to the NBA and supporters than the fairness of the competition," he told a broadcaster. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting."

Silver further mentioned an league probe into Rozier's conduct in spring 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a match he participated for the Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans, found nothing untoward.

"We were informed by the regulators and the gambling firms," he added.

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

"Federal authorities has legal authority... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can do all kinds of things that the league office can't do.

"Therefore, we've been working with them from that point. Naturally, what they revealed yesterday was an charge.

"Moreover 30 months after, he still hasn't been convicted of anything, in justice to Terry.

"Obviously, it appears unfavorable, but he's been put on administrative leave, and so it is a balance in this case between upholding rights and conducting an inquiry."

Other NBA Results

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

Following scoring forty-three points in a first defeat to the Golden State, the Slovenian achieved forty-nine scores - to go with 11 boards and 8 passes - as the Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo additionally had a strong performance with thirty-one scores, twenty boards and seven passes in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122 to 116 win at the Raptors.

Houston Rockets were defeated 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons despite 37 points from Kevin Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had twenty-nine points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks in the Spurs' extra-time victory over the Pelicans.