Artest behaves perfectly as pacers win
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-03 11:18

No brawls. No hard fouls. Not even a verbal jab.

Artest will be forever linked to the Nov. 19, 2004, brawl between the Pacers and the Detroit Pistons.

Artest reacted violently when a fan hit him in the face with a drink, setting off the worst brawl in U.S. sports history. Artest ran into the stands and pushed the fan he thought threw the cup. He also punched a fan who came onto the court.

Teammates joined in the melee, but Artest got most of the blame. He was suspended for the rest of the season — 73 games, plus the playoffs — the harshest punishment ever for a fight.

The Pacers have grown tired of talking about the fight. They want to focus on the season, one in which they are one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference.

They played like it against the Magic, spoiling the return of coach Brian Hill.

Jermaine O'Neal scored 19 points, Austin Croshere added 16 and the Pacers were 7-of-19 from behind the 3-point line.

The victory came without Grant Hill in the lineup for Orlando. The team's second-leading scorer last season, Hill could miss up to six weeks after having surgery Monday for a sports hernia.

Steve Francis led the Magic with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists — maybe playing as unselfishly as ever.