The Malice at The Palace

The Malice at The Palace is one of four names given to the on-court altercation at a NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and their arch-rivals, the Indiana Pacers on November 19, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan which spread into the stands. This disturbance has led to serious repercussions for those involved from both the NBA and the legal authorities. This incident is also known as The Basket Brawl, The Palace Brawl and The Motown Melee.

The disturbance

The incident took place in a game that many had looked forward to for some time. Five months earlier, the Pistons had defeated the Pacers in an intense Eastern Conference Finals series on their way to the NBA title. The November 19 contest would be the first rematch between the two rivals, and emotions figured to run high on both sides.

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The brawl began with 45.9 seconds remaining in the game, with Indiana winning 97-82. Piston forward/center Ben Wallace drove to the basket and was about to put up a shot when Pacers forward Ron Artest fouled him hard. Wallace, upset at being fouled hard when the game's outcome had effectively been decided, responded by shoving Artest. Several players from both teams joined the fray, resulting in an altercation.

Related Topics:
Forward - Center - Ben Wallace - Forward - Ron Artest - Fouled - Altercation

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The focus of the on-court scuffling gradually moved away from Artest, and he then climbed the scorer's table and laid down on it. Angered by Artest taunting him and pretending to give a radio interview while lying on the table, Wallace threw a towel at him. A spectator (John Green; he awaits trial) then threw a cup of beer at Artest. Artest responded by charging into the stands and confronting the man he believed responsible (not Green, however), triggering a violent response from dozens of spectators, as Pacers Stephen Jackson and David Harrison followed Artest into the stands to assist him. Several spectators were struck by Pacers players, while a few retaliated with punches of their own (including Green) and others threw cups of beer and soda at Pacers players. Two spectators angrily walked onto the court, and one of them confronted Artest, who was making his way back to the court. Artest punched him, starting another melee that eventually included several Pacer players, most notably Jermaine O'Neal, who was shown on video sucker-punching the second fan, later identified as Charlie Haddad.

Related Topics:
Radio - John Green - Beer - Stephen Jackson - David Harrison - Soda - Jermaine O'Neal - Sucker-punching - Charlie Haddad

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The game was abandoned with 45.9 seconds remaining, and the Pacers were awarded a 97-82 win. More beer, soda, ice, popcorn and a chair were thrown at Pacers players and other personnel as they were escorted from the court. No players from either team spoke to the media before leaving the arena.

Related Topics:
Ice - Popcorn - Chair - Media

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It was estimated that nine spectators were injured, though none of the injuries were thought to be serious. Two of the injured were taken to a hospital.

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