http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/13213776.htm On Nov. 19, 2004, then-Seattle SuperSonic Antonio Daniels rushed to Dwane Casey and asked if the coach had heard the news. The Sonics were on the way to an airport after a game in Toronto when Casey found out about the fight at The Palace of Auburn Hills involving the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and fans. It was the worst incident in NBA history. After Daniels told him what happened, Casey immediately called his mother, who lives in Indianapolis and had watched the game on television. She gave Casey a blow-by-blow account of the fight, which escalated when Pacer Ron Artest climbed into the stands and attacked a fan after a cup of beer had been thrown at Artest. "The next night, we had a big team meeting with our players and talked about the implications it would have on the league and the image of the players, that type of thing, and how we wanted to approach it with the media and within ourselves," Casey said Saturday on the anniversary of the fight. "That was a tough day for our league. … It was hard to watch. It was just shock. You're just thankful nobody got seriously hurt." Casey said he thinks the NBA has made appropriate changes in the brawl's aftermath. "I think the security has gotten better," Casey said. "I think the new rules about no drinking after the third quarter was a good policy. … I think (the fight) made us more aware of our behavior and our actions on the court. I think it has heightened awareness by officials, whether it's aggression or flagrant fouls and that type of thing, so things don't escalate." North Carolina reunion: Three North Carolina Tar Heels selected in the NBA draft lottery this summer were on hand for Saturday night's game. The Wolves' Rashad McCants was on the opposite side against Bobcats Sean May and Raymond Felton. The fourth Tar Heel who was a lottery pick, Marvin Williams, plays for the Atlanta Hawks. "It's a good opportunity just to be back on the floor together," May said. "(McCants) told us before the game, 'Don't take any offense if I get a mismatch and one of you are on me. I'm going to go to work.' " Said McCants: "It's a business now, and guys have to go out and perform. It's all about cheering on those guys when we're not playing each other." Burleson back: Former University of Minnesota guard Kevin Burleson returned to the Twin Cities as a Bobcats rookie. His older brother, Vikings receiver Nate Burleson, was expected to attend the game. "It's going to be somewhat emotional," said Kevin Burleson, who did not play because he was on the inactive list. "This city has been so great for me and my brother." Burleson played in Greece last season and has played 28 minutes in three games this season for Charlotte. "It's been a lot of ups and downs" since college, Burleson said. "Everything that's happened to me, I don't regret." --

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