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The Heat secured a decisive 146-114 victory over the Grizzlies in their initial NBA game after player Terry Rozier was detained for suspected unlawful sports betting.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was additionally detained as part of a extensive federal probe into sports betting. Both men deny the allegations.

However, the Heat were not distracted as they recorded 86 first-half scores to be ahead of the Grizzlies by thirty-nine after two quarters, the largest halftime lead in the team's 37 year existence.

Bam Adebayo led the way with 24 points and afterwards said Terry 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 commented: "Terry is a person who is important to all of us. He's had a real positive impact on our team.

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

Portland also secured their initial match since the detentions, with Brazil-born Tiago Splitter taking over as interim coach in Billups' non-attendance and leading the team to a decisive 139 to 119 victory over the Warriors.

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

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver 'Disturbed' by Recent Events

Addressing the detentions for the first time, league head Adam Silver stated he was "deeply disturbed" by the incidents of the recent days.

"Nothing is more critical to the league and supporters than the integrity of the game," he informed Amazon Prime. "And so I had a pit in my stomach. It was disturbing."

Silver further said an NBA investigation into Rozier's actions in spring 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a match he participated for the Hornets versus the Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

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

"We then looked into the matter and were very transparent regarding it. Although there was the unusual wagering, we, honestly, found no evidence.

"Federal authorities has legal authority... [it] can threaten to put people in jail, can take various actions that the NBA can't do.

"So, we've been working with them since then. Naturally, what they announced recently was an indictment.

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

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

Additional NBA Results

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers player Doncic scored over forty scores for the consecutive match in a row to begin the campaign.

After scoring 43 points in a season-opening 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 to 110.

Greek player Antetokounmpo also had a big night with 31 points, 20 boards and seven passes in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122 to 116 victory over the Raptors.

Houston Rockets were beaten 115-111 by the Detroit Pistons even with thirty-seven points from Durant, while Wembanyama had 29 points, 11 boards and nine rejections in the Spurs' extra-time victory against the New Orleans.