Ron Artest's week began with the promise of an All-Star berth but now is careening toward at least one form of punishment from the NBA's front office.

	Their first confrontation was mild compared to the second one: Pat Riley and Ron Artest later had to be separated after Artest bumped him.

Not only was the Indiana Pacers forward not selected Tuesday as a reserve for the Eastern Conference team, but two confrontations with Heat coach Pat Riley and an obscene gesture from center court likely will result in at least another fine -- and possibly a multi-game suspension.

Stu Jackson, the league's designated disciplinarian, is expected to announce a decision today. The Pacers host the Spurs tonight.

"We're conducting an investigation and we'll talk to all those involved," Jackson said.

Artest twice initiated testy exchanges with Riley in front of the Heat bench Monday night. The second exchange -- Heat assistant coach Keith Askins also was involved -- Riley pushed Artest away after Artest bumped him. During that incident, Artest flexed his right arm in front of Miami's bench after scoring despite being fouled by Brian Grant.

Riley still was angry when queried after Tuesday's practice.

"He's going to walk up into somebody's huddle one day, and he's going to walk up to the wrong guy," Riley told the Miami Herald.

"The officials will give technicals for hanging on the rim and technical fouls for taunting out on the court," he said. "But they never give reminders to players who always run by benches and insult benches."

Artest has been disciplined twice this season. He was fined $10,000 for shoving Dallas' Raja Bell and has served a three-game suspension for smashing a $100,000 TV camera in New York. He also was fined $35,000 for that incident.

Following the second confrontation with Riley, Artest -- who finished with 18 points in Indiana's 102-95 comeback victory over Miami -- made an obscene gesture from center court after completing a three-point play.

"I thought it was ridiculous," Heat point guard Travis Best, a former Pacer, was quoted as saying in the Herald. "Like we said, the refs have to do something about it. That's just a disrespect for the league, for everybody."

Artest, who has four flagrant fouls and eight technical fouls this season, declined to speak to the media after practice at Conseco Fieldhouse on Tuesday, but Pacers veteran Reggie Miller had plenty to say.

"I think his emotions are under control. That's all it is, a reputation," Miller told the Indianapolis Star.

"I know a lot of other players who probably had feistier reputations who had long-lasting careers. He understands what he's doing and he does a very valuable job for this team. Everybody talks about how bad and dirty Bill Laimbeer was, but everybody would've loved to have him on their team. And that's what we feel about Ron Artest."

Miller told the Star that other teams are jealous they don't have a player like Artest and insisted that his "Bad Boy" reputation is unwarranted.

"To date, he might be our most valuable player," Miller told the Star.