Federal investigators eyeing Terry Rozier's play in 2023 game - ESPN

MIAMI — Unusual betting patterns surrounding the play of then-Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier in a game nearly two years ago are now under investigation by federal prosecutors, part of the same probe that led to the lifetime ban of Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, the NBA confirmed Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the investigation, noting that Rozier, who played for the Hornets at that time and now plays for the Miami Heat, has neither been charged with a crime nor has he been accused of wrongdoing.

The NBA said it looked into the matter at the time and did not find that any league rules were broken.

«In March 2023, the NBA was alerted to unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier's performance in a game between Charlotte and New Orleans,» NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement, first released to The Wall Street Journal and then to other outlets. «The league conducted an investigation and did not find a violation of NBA rules. We are now aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York related to this matter and have been cooperating with that investigation.»

The U.S. Attorney's office did not immediately comment. The Heat referred to the NBA statement when asked for comment.

«We are aware of the NBA's 2023 investigation which determined there was absolutely no wrongdoing by Mr. Rozier and we are confident that the on-going government investigation will arrive at the exact same conclusion,» Rozier's attorney Jim Trusty said.

The game involving Rozier that is in question was played March 23, 2023, a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played the first 9 minutes, 36 seconds of that game — and not only did not