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The Heat earned a crushing 146 to 114 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies in their initial NBA match after guard Terry Rozier was arrested over suspected unlawful gambling.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested in connection with a extensive FBI investigation into illegal gambling. The two individuals contest the claims.

However, the Heat were focused as they recorded 86 opening half scores to be ahead of the Grizzlies by thirty-nine at halftime, the largest halftime lead in the franchise's 37 year history.

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

"We support him. Full support," Bam said. "You support him through and through. He's like family ultimately."

Heat coach Spoelstra added: "Terry is somebody who is very dear to everyone. He's had a beneficial influence on our team.

"We send our thoughts and our care for him as he faces the situation."

Portland also secured their initial match since the arrests, with Brazil-born Splitter stepping in as temporary head coach in Billups' absence and leading the squad to a convincing 139-119 win against the Warriors.

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

League Commissioner Adam Silver 'Disturbed' by Arrests

Speaking about the detentions for the first time, NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated he was "very upset" by the events of the recent days.

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

The commissioner also said an league probe into Rozier's actions in spring 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a match he played for the Charlotte Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans, found nothing untoward.

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

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

"The federal government has subpoena power... [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 since then. Naturally, what they announced yesterday was an indictment.

"And 30 months after, he still hasn't been convicted of anything, in fairness to Rozier.

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

Other League Outcomes

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers player Doncic scored more than 40 points for the consecutive match straight to start the season.

After racking up forty-three points in a first defeat to the Warriors, the Slovenian put up 49 points - along with eleven rebounds and eight assists - as the Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek player Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a big night with 31 scores, twenty rebounds and 7 assists in the Bucks' 122 to 116 victory over the Raptors.

Rockets were beaten 115-111 by the Pistons despite thirty-seven points from Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had twenty-nine points, eleven rebounds and 9 blocks in the Spurs' overtime win over the Pelicans.