The Legendary Indiana Pacers vs. Detroit Pistons vs. the Fans Brawl
Ben Wallace goes up for a layup in the final minutes of the game and gets fouled hard by Ron Artest. Artest then charges after a fan who threw a cup of beer, and the melee that ensues is the stuff of legend.
Blow-by-blow Recap:
-The Indiana Pacers’ Ron Artest fouls the Detroit Pistons’ Ben Wallace as Wallace goes for the layup near the end of the game.
-Ben Wallace gets up and shoves Ron Artest.
-Wallace and Artest try to get at each other, while the referees, players, and even the coaches get between them.
-Artest lies down to try to cool off, surrounded by coaches and other players.
-A fan, it’s unclear which, throws a cup of beer at Artest and hits him right in the chest.
-Artest jumps over a barrier and charges at a fan. It’s found out later that it’s the wrong one.
-Another fan throws a cup of beer at Artest, and Steven Jackson punches him out.
-Another fight involving a fan breaks out in front of the Pistons’ bench.
-The coaches escort the players to the locker rooms as fans throw food and drink on them.
-The game gets called.