love ron-ron...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Anyone expecting a kinder, gentler Ron Artest on the court this season is likely to come away disappointed.

"I'm going to continue playing hard and out of control, like a wild animal that needs to be caged in," Artest said Tuesday night before the Indiana Pacers faced the New Jersey Nets in the preseason opener for both teams. "I'll let the referees handle it."

Artest had eight points, three rebounds and three fouls in 12 minutes in the Nets' 105-103 victory.

Artest was greeted by a smattering of boos from the small crowd at Continental Airlines Arena, and his first points, on an 18-foot jumper a few minutes into the game brought the same response.

The game was Artest's first NBA action since a melee near the end of a game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace at Auburn Hills last Nov. 19 led to one of the worst brawls in American sports history.

For his part in the altercation, Artest was given a 73-game suspension by the NBA and teammates Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson and Anthony Johnson were given shorter suspensions. Those four and Indiana's David Harrison were sentenced this fall in Michigan to a year's probation plus community service.

Television replays again and again showed Artest running into the stands and attacking a Pistons fan after he was hit with a cup of beer. When asked Tuesday if he could envision a similar incident occurring again, Artest was guardedly contrite.

"I don't think anybody's going to throw anything at me, and I don't see me reacting how I reacted," he said.