Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - The Indiana Pacers will play the Boston Celtics Wednesday without forward Ron Artest. The Indianapolis Star reported on Wednesday that Indiana coach Isiah Thomas told Artest to stay home instead of traveling with the team to Boston after the Pacers lost to Washington 83-78 on Tuesday. When contacted by phone at the airport, Thomas' explanation for his decision was "disciplinary reasons", according to the report. Artest was suspended for four games earlier this season by the NBA for his actions in a January 27th game against Miami. The highly intense forward confronted the Heat bench, brushed up against coach Pat Riley and went as far as making an obscene gesture toward the Miami crowd during Indiana's 102-95 win. The 23-year-old Artest has averaged 15.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 48 games this season for Indiana. Originally selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round (16th overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft, Artest was traded along with Ron Mercer, Brad Miller and Kevin Ollie to the Pacers for Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Norman Richardson and a second-round draft pick in February 2002. |
