The Portland Trail Blazers organization was plunged into turmoil following the predawn arrest of head coach Chauncey Billups on Thursday. Billups was detained as part of a federal investigation related to alleged rigged poker games reportedly backed by the Mafia. This stunning development necessitated an immediate response from the Blazers, who had to quickly move forward with a new interim coach and a game scheduled for the following day.

In the wake of Billups' arrest, general manager Joe Cronin and Tiago Splitter addressed the team. Splitter, a former player for the San Antonio Spurs, whose most recent head coaching experience was with Paris Basketball in the Euro League, was asked to step in as interim coach. Lead assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren, who possessed previous head coaching experience, reportedly advised Cronin that Splitter was the best choice for the role, preferring to continue assisting the team by running the defense. Billups himself had recruited Splitter over the summer to help revamp the Blazers' offensive strategies.

Splitter acknowledged the difficult circumstances of his unexpected promotion, stating his readiness: "I have to be ready. I was ready, I am ready." He reflected on the team's shared experience with Billups, noting, "Honestly, it is a tough moment... we are thinking of him and his family. But we have a job to do, and we have to move forward."

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who had met Splitter in Paris during the Olympics, spoke positively about him. Kerr recounted how David Kahn, the owner of Paris Basketball, had highly recommended Splitter, praising his success in winning the French league and his potential to become an NBA head coach. Kerr acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances but affirmed Splitter's talent, stating, "Nobody wants it to be under these circumstances. But there's a reason Tiago is here. He's a talented guy."

Despite the turbulent backdrop, the Portland Trail Blazers secured a decisive 139-119 victory over the Golden State Warriors at the Moda Center in their first game under interim coach Splitter. This win served as a much-needed "palate cleanser" for the team after the intense events surrounding Billups' arrest and arraignment.

The Blazers demonstrated strong offensive prowess, shooting 54% from the field and converting 16 of 34 three-point attempts (47%). Deni Avdija led the scoring with 26 points on 11 of 18 shooting, while Jerami Grant added 22 points off the bench. All five Blazers starters contributed with double-digit scoring, highlighting a balanced team effort.

After the game, Kerr commended the Blazers' performance, dismissing any notions of fatigue affecting his own team. "I would be embarrassed to sit here and blame fatigue when a team just came out and took it to us. It was about them and their great play," Kerr stated. He also praised Portland's ongoing rebuilding efforts, noting, "This city is going to really enjoy watching the Blazers. They play hard. They have a real identity. They're doing a really good job of rebuilding the franchise after the long run with Terry [Stotts] and Dame [Lillard] and CJ [McCollum]. It's been a rough couple of years, but they've used that time wisely and built a really good roster."