INDIANAPOLIS -- The NBA Players Association filed an appeal Wednesday on behalf of Pacers forward Ron Artest, who was suspended for three games without pay and fined $35,000 for hurling a television monitor and smashing a camera after a loss in New York.

The Players Association called the penalty "both excessive and improper,'' spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

Artest stormed off the court after the Pacers' 98-96 loss to the Knicks on Friday night. As he walked to the locker room, he grabbed a TV monitor and threw it, then approached a cameraman, yanked the $100,000 high-definition camera away from him and smashed it to the floor.

The league said the $35,000 fine would be applied to the equipment damages. Wasserman said since the outburst occurred off the court, the appeal should be heard by an arbitrator. On-court suspensions have to be appealed to commissioner David Stern.

Artest did not play in a loss at Washington on Saturday or a victory at Philadelphia on Monday. After Indiana's game against the Knicks on Wednesday night, he is expected to return for Friday night's game at Orlando.

The appeal would not affect the missed games, only the fine and the lost salary, which is about $21,000 a game, Wasserman said.