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Miami Heat secured a decisive 146 to 114 win against the Memphis Grizzlies in their initial basketball match after player Rozier was detained for suspected illegal gambling.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was also detained as part of a sweeping federal probe into illegal gambling. Both men contest the claims.

But, the Miami team were focused as they recorded 86 first-half points to be ahead of Memphis by 39 at halftime, the largest half-time advantage in the franchise's 37 year existence.

Bam Adebayo led the way with twenty-four scores and later said Terry had the team's full backing.

"We stand behind him. Complete backing," Bam said. "We are with him all the way. That's our brother ultimately."

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra added: "Terry is a person who is important to everyone. He's had a beneficial influence on our locker room.

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

The Trail Blazers additionally won their initial match since the arrests, with Brazil-born Splitter taking over as temporary head coach in Billups' absence and leading the team to a decisive 139-119 victory against the Warriors.

"We all had great experiences with Billups and his coaching style," Splitter remarked. "We're thinking of him and his family but we have a job to do."

League Commissioner Adam Silver 'Disturbed' by Recent Events

Addressing the arrests for the first time, NBA commissioner Silver said he was "deeply disturbed" by the events of the recent days.

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

The commissioner further said an league probe into the player's conduct in spring 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a game he played for the Charlotte Hornets against the Pelicans, found nothing untoward.

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

"We then looked into the matter and were very transparent regarding it. And while there was the unusual wagering, we, frankly, couldn't find anything.

"Federal authorities has legal authority... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can take various actions that the NBA is unable to.

"Therefore, we've been cooperating since then. Naturally, what they revealed yesterday was an indictment.

"And two and a half years later, he still hasn't been convicted of any offense, in fairness to Terry.

"Clearly, it doesn't look good, but he's been put on administrative leave, and so it is a balance here between protecting people's rights and conducting an inquiry."

Additional League Results

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

Following scoring 43 points in a first defeat to the Golden State, the Slovenian put up 49 points - to go with eleven rebounds and eight assists - as the Los Angeles defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-110.

From Greece player Antetokounmpo also had a big night with 31 scores, twenty boards and 7 passes in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122 to 116 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Rockets were defeated 115 to 111 by the Detroit Pistons even with thirty-seven points from Kevin Durant, while Wembanyama had twenty-nine scores, 11 rebounds and nine rejections in the San Antonio Spurs' overtime win against the Pelicans.