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Miami Heat secured a crushing 146-114 victory over the Grizzlies in their first NBA game since player Rozier was arrested for alleged illegal gambling.

Trail Blazers head coach Billups was also arrested as part of a broad FBI investigation into illegal gambling. Both men contest the claims.

But, the Miami team were focused as they put up eighty-six opening half scores to be ahead of Memphis by thirty-nine after two quarters, the biggest half-time advantage in the franchise's 37 year existence.

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

"We support him. Full support," Adebayo stated. "We are with him all the way. That's our brother at the end of the day."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra added: "Rozier is somebody who is very dear to all of us. He's had a beneficial influence on our locker room.

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

The Trail Blazers also won their initial match since the detentions, with Brazilian Tiago Splitter stepping in as interim coach in Chauncey's absence and leading the squad to a decisive 139 to 119 win over the Warriors.

"We all had positive times with Billups and how he coached," Tiago remarked. "Our thoughts are with him and his loved ones but we have a job to do."

League Commissioner Silver 'Disturbed' over Recent Events

Addressing the detentions for the first time, NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the past few days.

"There's nothing more important to the league and its fans than the fairness of the competition," he informed a broadcaster. "And so I felt uneasy. It was disturbing."

Silver further said an league probe into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a game he played for the Charlotte Hornets versus the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

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

"We then looked into the matter and were open about it. Although there was that aberrational betting, we, frankly, 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 cooperating since then. And, of course, what they announced yesterday was an charge.

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

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

Additional NBA Results

Elsewhere, Lakers player Doncic scored more than 40 points for the consecutive match in a row to start the season.

Following racking up forty-three scores in a first defeat to the Warriors, the Slovenian put up 49 points - to go with 11 rebounds and eight passes - as the Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo additionally had a strong performance with 31 scores, twenty boards and 7 assists in the Bucks' 122 to 116 victory at the Raptors.

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