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Miami Heat earned a decisive 146 to 114 win over the Grizzlies in their first basketball game 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 federal investigation into illegal gambling. The two individuals deny the allegations.

However, the Heat were focused as they scored 86 first-half scores to be ahead of the Grizzlies by thirty-nine after two quarters, the biggest half-time advantage in the team's 37 year existence.

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

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

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra added: "Rozier is a person 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 goes through this."

Portland also secured their first game since the arrests, with Brazil-born Splitter stepping in as temporary head coach in Billups' absence and leading the team to a decisive 139 to 119 win over the Golden State Warriors.

"We all had positive times with Billups and how he coached," Splitter said. "Our thoughts are with him and his family but we have a job to do."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver 'Upset' over Recent Events

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

"There's nothing more important to the league and supporters than the fairness of the competition," he told Amazon Prime. "Therefore I had a pit in my stomach. It was disturbing."

The commissioner also said an NBA investigation into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "aberrational betting" in a game he participated for the Charlotte Hornets versus the Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

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

"We investigated the matter and were open about it. And while there was that aberrational betting, we, frankly, couldn't find anything.

"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.

"So, we've been cooperating since then. Naturally, what they announced yesterday was an charge.

"And two and a half years after, he still hasn't been convicted of anything, in justice to Terry.

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

Additional NBA Results

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

Following scoring 43 scores in a season-opening loss to the Warriors, the Slovenian achieved 49 scores - along with 11 boards and 8 assists - as the Los Angeles beat the Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Antetokounmpo additionally had a strong performance with thirty-one scores, 20 rebounds and 7 assists in the Bucks' 122 to 116 victory at the Raptors.

Rockets were defeated 115-111 by the Pistons even with thirty-seven points from Durant, while Victor Wembanyama had 29 points, eleven rebounds and 9 blocks in the San Antonio Spurs' overtime win against the Pelicans.