Heat Guard Terry Rozier Under Investigation As Result Of Unusual Betting Pattern

Federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into unusual betting patterns surrounding a game involving current Heat and former Hornets guard Terry Rozier from March 2023, an investigation tied to the same probe that led to the lifetime ban of Raptors player Jontay Porter, the NBA confirmed Thursday.Terry Rozier, NBA, Miami Heat

According to NBA spokesman Mike Bass, “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. 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.”

Rozier, who is currently with the Heat after his time with the Hornets, has neither been charged with a crime nor accused of any wrongdoing.

His attorney, Jim Trusty, expressed confidence in Rozier’s innocence, saying, “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.”

The game in question took place on March 23, 2023, when Rozier played the first quarter of the Hornets’ matchup against the Pelicans. Rozier, who had a productive first quarter with five points, four rebounds, and two assists, was shut down for the remainder of the game due to a foot issue.

He did not play again that season, as the Hornets were not in playoff contention.

While the injury might not have seemed unusual, the betting patterns surrounding Rozier’s performance raised eyebrows. Bettors had placed prop bets on Rozier’s stats for the night, with sportsbooks setting his totals at around 21.5 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.

However, some sportsbooks took down Rozier’s prop bets hours before the game began. This led to speculation among bettors, with many frustrated by Rozier’s early exit and questioning whether something “shady” had occurred.

One bettor shared an image of a ticket showing a parlay that would have paid out $401.95, contingent on Rozier exceeding a combined 32.5 points, assists, and rebounds. Rozier’s early exit resulted in the bet failing to cash, prompting a wave of online complaints. The specifics behind the unusual betting activity remain unclear, but the investigation is ongoing.

The NBA has cooperated fully with federal authorities on the matter.

Meanwhile, the league continues to closely monitor betting patterns and the integrity of the game, as evidenced by the earlier ban of Jontay Porter, who was found to have disclosed confidential information to bettors and wagered on games himself.

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