7 NBA games DOJ says were affected by high-stakes wagers

The Department of Justice Listed seven sports that involved high-stakes deaths after non-public information was disclosed to gamblers.

Terry Rozier, DOJ says, was directly involved in one of them, while Damon Jones is said to have informed on both. Los Angeles Lakers When he was the team’s assistant coach.

Rozier’s alleged involvement came to light during a game on March 23, 2023, when he told childhood friend DeNiro Laster that he would be leaving the game early, citing an injury, so Laster could make a hire based on the information. Hornets officials or betting companies were not informed of Rozier’s plan, according to the allegation, and Rozier was not listed on the team’s injury report.

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A common sight of Mr. Kim singing the national anthem of the Charlotte Hornets before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Terry Rozier only played nine minutes in this game. (Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports)

That information was then allegedly sold to other co-conspirators, and numerous people bet approximately $200,000 on Rozier’s “under” prop bets to hit in both parlay and straight wagers. After Rozier played just nine minutes and did not return, Bett won. Rozier and Laster counted the cash winnings about a week later at Rozier’s home in Charlotte, the indictment said.

According to Jones, he was allegedly told by someone close to him that the “prospect” player on the Lakers would not play on February 9, 2023, before the information became public.

“Bet big on (the) Milwaukee (Bucks) tonight before it runs out! (Player 3) is out tonight. Bet enough so Jones can eat (sic) now!!!,” Jones allegedly texted a friend.

The DOJ says the player was eventually ruled out with a lower-body injury — LeBron James didn’t play that night because of an ankle injury that kept him out for two more games. The game came two days after James scored 38 points to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

LeBron James (23) Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue (not pictured) and former teammate Damon Jones, center, talk during an off-day practice before playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Tuesday, June 207, in Cleveland, Ohio. (San Francisco Chronicle via Carlos Avila Gonzalez/Getty Images)

NBA legend Chauncey Billups, Heat’s Terry Rozier arrested as part of FBI gambling probe

Jones revealed 11 months later about another “one of the Lakers’ best players” about an injury that could have affected his performance, which ultimately led to the player “doing well” and the Lakers winning.

Another game cited by the DOJ was a Portland Trail Blazers-Chicago Bulls matchup on March 24, 2023, the day after Rozier played nine minutes, where a co-conspirator, “an NBA coach at the time,” allegedly told a longtime friend, also a defendant in the retail poker scheme, that it would be better to pick a “bit craft” that night. Some of the best players on the team. The rest of the players had not been made public yet.

The team’s top four scorers, including Damian Lillard, did not play that night, as the co-conspirators totaled more than $100,000 against Portland.

The co-conspirator in question is listed as a former NBA player whose career spanned from “approximately 1997 to 2014” and “an NBA coach from at least 2021.” only Chauncey BillupsThe defendant in the poker case, too, fits that criteria. Billups is not named as a defendant in the sports betting case, which remains under investigation.

On April 6, 2023, one of the defendants was tipped off by a connection to a then-Orlando Magic player, the indictment reads.

“A co-conspirator contacted a Magic player to learn that several of the team’s top players would be playing in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers – information that had not yet been made public. The co-conspirator passed the tip to (Defendant), who bet approximately $11,000, and then the Cavaliers switched points. Confirmed and the Cavaliers defeated the Magic by 24 points, (Defendant) and The co-conspirator pocketed the winnings,” the DOJ said.

The other two games cited by the DOJ are that Jonte Porter took out early for hitting under props. Porter has been banned for life by the NBA and is currently serving nearly four years in prison.

Johnte Porter #34 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 13, 2024 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Brian Seveld/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Rozier and Jones were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The NBA announced that Rozier and Billups had been placed on immediate leave from their team, “and we will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities.”

“The integrity of our game is our highest priority,” the NBA said.

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