The Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers returned to winning ways in the NBA on Friday following high-profile arrests that rocked the league. Heat guard Terry Rozier and Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were detained as part of a federal investigation into alleged illegal sports betting. Both men have denied the allegations, and teams showed their full support on the court.

Miami Heat Dominate Memphis Grizzlies

In their first game since Rozier’s arrest, Miami Heat delivered a resounding 146-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. The team scored 86 points in the first half, marking the largest halftime lead in franchise history and setting the tone for a decisive win.

Bam Adebayo led the scoring with 24 points and offered public backing for Rozier:

“We stand behind him. Full support. That’s our brother at the end of the day.”

Coach Erik Spoelstra echoed those sentiments, highlighting Rozier’s positive impact on the team:

“Terry is somebody who is very dear to all of us. He’s had a real positive impact on our locker room. We send our thoughts and our care for him as he goes through this.”

Portland Trail Blazers Bounce Back

The Portland Trail Blazers, under interim coach Tiago Splitter in Billups’ absence, also claimed a convincing 139-119 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Splitter praised the former head coach and reaffirmed the team’s focus:

“We all had great experiences with Chauncey and how he coached. We’re thinking of him and his family but we have a job to do.”

NBA Commissioner Reacts

NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the arrests, expressing concern for the integrity of the league:

“There’s nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition. It was very upsetting. Terry Rozier has been put on administrative leave, and while it doesn’t look good, he hasn’t been convicted of anything.”

Silver clarified that an internal league investigation into Rozier’s alleged betting in March 2023 found no wrongdoing.

Other Notable NBA Performances

• Luka Doncic scored 49 points, adding 11 rebounds and eight assists, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. This followed a 43-point performance in the season opener.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 31 points, 20 rebounds, and seven assists as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Toronto Raptors 122-116.
• Kevin Durant tallied 37 points for the Houston Rockets, but they fell 115-111 to the Detroit Pistons.
• Rising star Victor Wembanyama had 29 points, 11 rebounds, and nine blocks in the San Antonio Spurs’ overtime victory against the New Orleans Pelicans.
• Great Britain’s Amari Williams made his NBA debut in the Boston Celtics’ 105-95 loss to the New York Knicks.

Both the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers have demonstrated resilience under extraordinary circumstances, proving their ability to stay focused amid league controversies. Fans will be watching closely as these stories continue to unfold in the 2025 NBA season.