NEW YORK -- Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest was suspended for four games Wednesday for his run-in with Heat coach Pat Riley and flashing an obscene gesture toward the crowd.

	Artest

Artest also committed a flagrant foul on Heat guard Caron Butler by pushing him into the stands in Monday night's game in Miami.

The suspension, announced by Stu Jackson, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations, will cost Artest about $84,000 in pay. It started with Wednesday night's home game against the San Antonio Spurs.

"I'm very disappointed with the league's ruling," Artest said in a statement.

"I don't think the suspension comes close to going with my actions. I thought I might get a fine, but not a game. I don't think four games is fair at all," he said.

Dan Wasserman, spokesman for the NBA Players' Association, said he would speak to Artest or his agents before deciding whether to file a grievance.

The suspension was the second of the season for Artest. He missed three games for hurling a TV monitor and smashing a $100,000 camera in New York. He also was fined $10,000 for shoving Dallas' Raja Bell.

In the fourth quarter of the Pacers' 102-95 win against the Heat, Artest scored, was fouled and flexed his right arm muscles as he walked toward the Miami bench.

He and Heat assistant coach Keith Askins exchanged words, then Artest brushed against Riley. They began shouting at each other, and the Miami coach shoved Artest away.

Artest was called for a technical. After Miami's Eddie Jones missed the free throw, Artest hit his free throw and backpedaled, holding aloft the index finger of his right hand and the middle finger of his left hand.

"It was in the heat of the moment," Artest said. "I definitely apologize to the fans, and mainly to the kids who saw the gesture on TV."

Riley hopes the latest suspension sends Artest a message.

"The only thing that I was upset with two nights ago was the hit on Caron (Butler). The other stuff is just foolish behavior," Riley said Wednesday. "But I'd like to have two or three Ron Artests myself, know what I'm saying? He's a hell of a player, a very competitive player, and maybe this sort of gets him to focus a little bit more on what he has to do."