Blazers' mood somber but 'move forward' after Billups' arrest - ESPN

PORTLAND, Ore. — Stunned by the arrest of head coach Chauncey Billups in a sprawling alleged poker scheme, the Portland Trail Blazers took to the court Friday night under an interim coach as they navigated an unexpectedly tumultuous start to the new season.

Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier were among those arrested Thursday for what federal law enforcement officials described as their involvement in various illicit gambling activities. Billups was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games.

The 49-year-old coach was arrested at his Lake Oswego home before dawn on Thursday, just hours after the Blazers lost their season opener at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The mood was somber in the Blazers' locker room before Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors. Few players wanted to talk.

«It's not an easy situation. We're thinking about him and his family,» forward Deni Avdija said. «We really love Chauncey and what he's done for this organization. I don't know the details and I don't really want to get into that. I'm trying to focus on the game.»

The NBA placed Billups and Rozier on leave following their arrests and the Blazers named assistant coach and former NBA player Tiago Splitter interim head coach.

Splitter spoke to the media before the game against the Warriors and was peppered with questions about the team's mood upon learning of the arrest.

«Not great, not great. But like I said, we've got to move forward, we've a job to do,» Splitter said. «We have a great opportunity in front of us to have a good season with this team and I'm excited about that.»

Splitter, 40, joined Billups' staff in June. A 6-foot-11 center from Brazil, Splitter played seven years in the