Indianapolis ? Indiana’s Ron Artest was suspended for one game by the NBA on Monday for leaving the bench during a confrontation in the Pacers’ playoff win over Boston.

Artest will miss Game 2 of the first-round Eastern Conference series tonight.

In the second quarter of Saturday’s game, Artest briefly left the bench when he saw teammate Jermaine O’Neal thrown to the floor by Boston’s Brandon Hunter.

Artest started onto the court when he saw O’Neal lose his composure, but turned and headed back to the bench after about four steps.

“It’s a rule. The NBA has rules you have to abide by,” Artest said Monday.