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The Heat secured a overwhelming 146-114 win against the Memphis Grizzlies in their initial basketball game after guard Terry Rozier was arrested for suspected unlawful sports betting.

Trail Blazers coach Billups was also arrested in connection with a sweeping FBI investigation into sports betting. The two individuals contest the claims.

However, the Heat were not distracted as they scored 86 opening half scores to be ahead of the Grizzlies by 39 after two quarters, the largest half-time advantage in the franchise's 37-year existence.

Adebayo top-scored with 24 points and afterwards stated Terry had the support of the team.

"We support him. Full support," Adebayo said. "You support him through and through. That's our brother at the end of the day."

Miami head coach Spoelstra added: "Terry is a person who is very dear to everyone. He has made a beneficial influence on our locker room.

"We send our thoughts and support for him as he goes through this."

Portland also won their initial match after the arrests, with Brazil-born Splitter taking over as temporary head coach in Chauncey's absence and guiding the squad to a decisive 139 to 119 win against the Warriors.

"We all had great experiences with Chauncey and how he coached," Splitter remarked. "We're thinking of him and his loved ones but our focus is on the game."

League Commissioner Silver 'Upset' by Arrests

Speaking about the detentions for the first time, league head Adam Silver said he was "very upset" by the events of the past few days.

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

Silver also mentioned an NBA investigation into the player's actions in March 2023, when there was "unusual wagering" in a match he participated for the Charlotte Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered no wrongdoing.

"It was brought to our attention by the regulators and the gambling firms," he added.

"We then looked into that situation and were very transparent about it. And while there was the unusual wagering, we, honestly, couldn't find anything.

"The federal government has subpoena power... [it] can impose penalties, can take various actions that the league office can't do.

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

"And 30 months after, 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."

Other League Outcomes

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers player Luka Doncic recorded more than 40 scores for the consecutive match in a row to begin the campaign.

Following racking up 43 points in a season-opening loss to the Warriors, the Slovenian put up forty-nine points - to go with eleven boards and 8 passes - as the Los Angeles defeated the Timberwolves 128-110.

Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo also had a strong performance with 31 points, twenty boards and seven assists in the Milwaukee Bucks' 122-116 victory at the Raptors.

Houston Rockets were beaten 115-111 by the Pistons despite 37 scores from Kevin Durant, while Wembanyama had twenty-nine scores, eleven rebounds and 9 rejections in the Spurs' extra-time victory against the Pelicans.