Basketball News - Huge fight errupts at Palace of Auburn Hills


(Photo copyright AP)

After he was fouled by Ron Artest, Ben Wallace started a shoving match by shoving Artest to get back at him for the foul.

The shoving then escalated into a huge brawl, involving both players and fans. Officials had stopped the game with 45.9 seconds remaining after the foul.

Things calmed down, and Artest was lying on the scorer's table to calm down when a blue cup of Coke came flying at him. Artest then jumped up, and ran into the stands and punched a fan. The Pacers' Stephen Jackson also got in on the action, punching any fan that got in his path. Chairs were thrown and the police used pepper spray on the crazed fans.

"It's the ugliest thing I've seen as a coach or player,'' said Pistons coach Larry Brown, who was in the middle of the confrontation, trying to break it up.

After several minutes of players fighting with fans in the stands, the Pacers had beer, ice, popcorn, and other debris being thrown at them as they were attempting to make their way to their locker room.

"I felt like I was fighting for my life out there,'' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "I'm sorry the game had to end this way.''

As Artest and Jermaine O'Neal were making their way to the locker room, a man in a Pistons jersey approached Artest with his fists up shouting at him. Artest punched the man in his face, and walked off, then the man got up and charged at O'Neal. O'Neal then punched him in his face and the man fell to the floor.

"The NBA is withholding comment until it can review the incident,'' NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.

Pistons spokesman Tom Wilson said he did not believe anyone would be arrested.

Players from both teams left without comment.

Police prevented reporters from crossing the loading dock to get to Indiana's locker room or the area where the Pacers' bus was located.




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