Indiana's Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson, and Detroit's Ben Wallace were suspended indefinitely by the NBA on Saturday for taking part in one of the ugliest brawls in U.S. sports history, a fight with fans that commissioner David Stern called "shocking, repulsive and inexcusable."
League officials and police were examining videotapes of Friday night's melee and interviewing witnesses. The NBA issued a statement saying it was reviewing rules and security procedures "so that fans can continue to attend our games unthreatened by events such as the ones that occurred last night."
Artest, O'Neal and Jackson -- all of whom threw punches at fans in the stands or on the court during the fight at the end of the nationally televised Pacers-Pistons game -- began their suspensions Saturday night, when the Pacers -- limited to just six players because of suspensions and injuries --
lost a home game against Orlando.
The length of the four players' bans could be announced as early as Sunday.
Artest and Jackson lunged into the stands and fought with fans in the final minute of Friday's game, and the brawl forced an early end to the Pacers' 97-82 win.
After several minutes of players fighting with fans in the stands, a chair, beer, ice and popcorn were thrown at the Pacers as they made their way to the locker room.
Nine people were treated for injuries, two of whom were taken to a hospital, police said.
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The fight was "shocking, repulsive and inexcusable -- a humiliation for everyone associated with the NBA," Stern
said in a statement Saturday.
The league said it was reviewing rules and security procedures "so that fans can continue to attend our games unthreatened by events such as the ones that occurred last night."
Auburn Hills police gathered videotapes from various media outlets, interviewed witnesses and planned to talk to the players involved in the melee.
Auburn Hills Deputy Chief Jim Mynsberge said prosecutors will review the evidence and decide on any charges, hopefully before Thanksgiving.
The fight started when Wallace went in for a layup and was fouled hard by Artest from behind. Wallace wheeled around and pushed Artest in the face. The benches emptied and punches were thrown.
As the players continued shoving each other near center court and coaches tried to restore order, Artest sprawled out on his back on the scorer's table, looking relaxed.
Just when it appeared tempers had died down, Artest was struck by a cup thrown from the stands. He jumped up and charged into the stands, throwing punches as he climbed over seats.
Jackson joined Artest in the melee and threw punches at fans, who punched back.
Security personnel and ushers tried to break it up. Former Pistons player Rick Mahorn, who was seated courtside as a Detroit radio analyst, tried to stop the brawl in the stands. Detroit's Rasheed Wallace and Indiana's David Harrison were also in or near the stands trying to break up the fights.
Later, a man in a Pistons jersey approached Artest on the court, shouting at him. Artest punched him in the face, knocking him to the floor. O'Neal stepped in and punched another man who joined the scrum.
Players from both teams left the arena without comment.
Artest has been suspended several times by the NBA. Earlier this month, he was benched for two games for asking Carlisle for time off because of a busy schedule that included promoting a soon-to-be released rap album.
Artest also destroyed TV monitors at Madison Square Garden two years ago and missed the team flight to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals at Detroit last season.
Artest, O'Neal and Jackson -- all of whom threw punches at fans during the fight -- were to begin serving their suspensions Saturday night, when the Pacers played a home game against Orlando.
Wallace's suspension will begin with the Pistons' next home game, Sunday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Pistons spokesman Tom Wilson said Saturday the team plans to use "playoff-level security" starting with that game, doubling the number of armed police and increasing arena security by about 25 percent, though he couldn't say how many police and security that would be.
"Our investigation is ongoing, and I expect it to be completed by tomorrow (Sunday) evening," Stern said in his statement.
The brawl was shocking, with Artest and Jackson bolting into the stands near center court and throwing punches at fans after debris was thrown at the players. Later, fans who came onto the court were punched in the face by Artest and O'Neal.
Wallace began the fracas by delivering a hard two-handed shove to Artest after Wallace was fouled on a drive to the basket with 45.9 seconds remaining. After the melee broke out, the referees called off the remainder of the game.
"This demonstrates why our players must not enter the stands, whatever the provocation or poisonous behavior of people attending the games," Stern said.
Pistons fans took some flack for the brawl, with at least one commentator calling them a "bunch of punks."
"It's easy to throw beer on top of somebody who's already down. It's easy to throw a punch at somebody when you're behind them," ESPN commentator John Saunders said. "Show us that you're not a sissy. Just do it right. It just makes me mad. It's ridiculous. It's the worst thing I've ever seen."
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