DETROIT, United States (AFP) - The National Basketball Association suspended Indiana's Ron Artest and three others following an ugly skirmish where Pacer players fought with Detroit fans.
Artest and teammate Stephen Jackson were both suspended indefinitely after they went into the stands during Friday's game and traded punches with spectators who hurled plastic bottles and a chair at the players.
Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal and Detroit forward Ben Wallace, who started the melee, were also handed indefinite suspensions by the league's disciplinary officials, the Pacers reported on their web site on Saturday.
"The events of last night's game were shocking, repulsive and inexcusable - a humiliation for everyone associated with the NBA," said NBA commissioner David Stern.
"This demonstrates why our players must not enter the stands whatever the provocation or poisonous behaviour of people attending the games."
Stern said the league was still investigating the incident and that more details on the length of the suspensions would be coming in the next few days.
Police are investigating but no charges have been laid.
No one was seriously injured in the five-minute skirmish although at least one fan was treated in hospital.
Detroit police said they hope to complete their investigation and hand over the materials to prosecutors by Thursday.
Prosecutors will then make a decision on whether to file charges.
All three Indiana players will miss Saturday's game against Orlando, meaning they will have six or seven players available for action.
The Pistons are also stepping up security at home games by adding more uniformed and undercover officers.
"We are going to go back to what we call playoff security," Detroit chief executive Tom Wilson said.
Wilson is hoping that added security will prevent a repeat of Friday where Jackson climbed into the seats and landed a punch at a fan next to another fan who had thrown a plastic beer bottle at Artest.
Fans continued to throw things and verbally accost members of the Pacers. Several came onto the court and one stood in front of Artest who swung at him wildly but landed only a glancing blow. O'Neal ran over and punched another fan.
"That was the ugliest thing I've ever seen in my life as a coach or player," Detroit coach Larry Brown said Friday. "I'm just embarrassed for our league and disappointed being a part of this with young people seeing that."
Pacers president Donnie Walsh said: "A very unfortunate sitation developed at Detroit Friday night.
"After the initial encounter on the court, the players were under control. But as fans quickly became involved, the situation escalated.
"More specifically, the safety of everyone present was compromised, and that is of great concern for us."
Former NBA player and television announcer Bill Walton on Friday said under no circumstances should players react to fans' actions.
"You have to prepare yourself for every eventuality," he said.
"Yes, the temptation is always there, but the discipline required to become an NBA player, the privilege and honour that goes with being an NBA player, prohibits you from ever crossing that line."
"I've never seen anything like that before and I hope I never do again," said Sacramento Kings forward Chris Webber.
"Detroit is a blue collar city. The blue collar hard working man is not the one you want to be messing with."
The game was called, which forced the Pacers to make their way through a gauntlet of angry fans who continued to throw objects.
Players and team officials were showered with beer, soft drinks and popcorn.
"I felt like I was fighting for my life out there," said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
11/21/2004 - 08:25 GMT - AFP