Indiana Pacers

Metta World Peace & Ben Wallace agree that Khabib & Conor's post-UFC 229 brawl was intense ... but neither man seems to think it was as bad as their infamous 2004 "Malice In The Palace" fight.

BTW -- both these guys absolutely LOVE talking about the "Malice at the Palace."

Actually, we were joking ... they really wish it would never be brought up again, but they still both ultra cool to our camera guy, so it is what it is.

We got Ben at LAX (a minor miracle) and Metta out on the streets of L.A. and asked them what they thought about the whole dustup, being that they're experienced.

Remember -- Ben and Metta weren't just involved in the Pacers vs. Pistons mega-fight, THEY GOT IT JUMPED OFF -- as the first two guys to go.

Ben was first ... saying he's not sure 229 was worse ... but that he's rooting for it.

"I hope something surpasses it, so we can stop talking about it."

We got Metta next, asked him his thoughts.

"It was a pretty epic fight, but there's always fights all the time."

One thing that's pretty clear ... neither guy thinks there should be too stiff a penalty for the dustup, with Metta saying there should be no action by the UFC at all ... as long Khabib plays nice.

"I would say, 'don't do it again,' and he won't do it again."

If only David Stern would've been so cool in '04.

Victor Oladipo's got the key for LeBron James to beat the Golden State Warriors next year ... and it only requires one thing from the King -- join the Pacers!!

We got the Indiana star leaving TAO on Monday night -- fresh off winning Most Improved Player at the NBA Awards -- and he told us all his squad needs in order to win a ring is a little LBJ.

Then, he gave us his best pitch to the NBA's top player.

"If you want to win, come to Indy!!"

Remember ... LeBron's been the reason the Pacers haven't advanced in the Eastern Conference Playoffs two years in a row -- so the move kills two birds with one stone for Oladipo.

Here's what it looks like when you've had enough of losing to LeBron James.

Indiana Pacers star Myles Turner -- just weeks after losing another playoff series to LBJ and the Cavs -- decided to go from skinny fat to shredded ... and we gotta say, the results so far are impressive.

The almost 7-footer's been hitting the weights the last five weeks ... but he's also been moving his big-ass frame around in boxing sparring sessions.

FYI ... prior to Turner beefing up this summer -- he weighed in at 255 pounds. LeBron -- the guy who's killed Turner and the Pacers' playoff dreams the past two years -- clocked in at 250 ... at three inches shorter!

Ric Flair has a message for all you Cavs fans fretting over that Game 1 beatdown the Pacers put on you ... CHILLLLLLL ... 'cause Nature Boy says LeBron James and the Cavs will win on Wednesday.

As long as LBJ goes for 40.

We got Ric -- a huge Cavs fan and the man LeBron credits with keeping him off the street as a kid -- out in NYC ... and asked if Cleveland is in trouble after the Pacers took it to them in Game 1.

"LeBron, you gotta do 40 tomorrow night, man."

Indiana Pacer Jordan Hill had the nerve to ask cops if they HAD to arrest him ... after they busted him doing 107 mph -- and the exchange was all caught on dash cam video.

TMZ Sports got the full video, including the audio, which reveals Hill's hysterical attempt to get some leniency. As we previously reported, he got arrested last week in Georgia, and after cops pulled him out of his Range Rover -- shirtless, for some reason -- he tried to turn on the charm.

Watch the clip -- the police officer said, "What's your story, man? Just driving like an idiot?" Hill actually mutters an excuse which clearly did NOT sway the officer ... who quickly put him in cuffs.

Indiana Pacers player Jordan Hill was arrested in Atlanta this week after cops say he was burning rubber at 107 miles per hour ... without a shirt.

Several people called 911 to report the vehicle on Tuesday -- and cops eventually caught up to the former Lakers player, who was driving a Range Rover.

Dash cam footage shows cops putting a shirtless Hill in cuffs and placing him in the back of a cop car.

He was booked for speeding and reckless driving.

Pacers president Larry Bird issued a statement saying, "We have been informed Jordan was arrested for allegedly reckless driving in Atlanta, Georgia.'

Ya can't play basketball forever ... and Roy Hibbert knows it ... telling TMZ Sports he wants to work in Hollywood after his NBA career -- and says his dream job would be to appear on "Tosh.0."

The Indiana Pacers star has already gotten his feet wet -- appearing on a few episodes of "Parks and Recreation" over the years.

But now, Hibbert says he's moving to L.A. for the summer -- and might take some voice acting classes to help him better his chances of getting a V/O job when he hangs up his sneakers.

As for "Tosh.0" ... Hibbert says he'd be open to doing ANYTHING to appear on the show with Daniel Tosh (one of his favorite comedians) ... if Tosh is into the idea.

Indiana Pacers player Chris Copeland is reportedly being treated in the ICU of an NYC hospital -- after doctors determined his stab wounds included damage to his diaphragm.

Copeland was attacked after leaving 1Oak nightclub early Wednesday morning -- now multiple media outlets are reporting that doctors expect Chris to be in the ICU for 2 or 3 days.

According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, doctors are also concerned about the wound to Copeland's elbow -- and wanted to "clear the wound" because it might be susceptible to infection.

As we previously reported, the suspect in the stabbing -- a 22-year-old Shezoy Bleary -- was taken into custody following the attack.

The Indiana Pacers are rallying around their injured player Chris Copeland ... with teammate Luis Scola telling TMZ Sports they're gonna try to get a "W" to honor him tonight.

The Pacers are in NYC to take on the NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden -- and before Scola hit the arena, he hit Starbucks for a quick pick-me-up ... where we asked about Copeland.

Scola says he hasn't spoken with Chris since he was stabbed outside a nightclub around 4AM -- but says the team is definitely thinking about him.

Two Atlanta Hawks basketball players claim allegations they got in the way of a police investigation at the scene of an NYC stabbing are UNTRUE ... and they vow to fight the charges in court.

As we previously reported, Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic were arrested near 1Oak nightclub after Indiana Pacers player Chris Copeland was stabbed in an early morning attack.

Cops say Pero and Thabo obstructed police from investigating the crime scene -- and were acting disorderly when asked to get out of the way. Cops also say Thabo resisted arrest and it took several officers to take him into custody.

But now, the players have issued a joint statement calling BS on the NYPD ... saying, "We will contest these charges and look forward to communicating the facts of the situation at the appropriate time."

They continued, "As members of the Atlanta Hawks, we hold ourselves to a high standard and take our roles as professionals very seriously."

An Indiana Pacers player and his girlfriend were stabbed -- and two ATL Hawks players were arrested for obstructing police -- in a violent incident outside of an NYC nightclub early Wednesday morning ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The stabbing victim is Pacers forward Chris Copeland ... who was stabbed in the stomach around 4 AM after leaving 1Oak nightclub. His girlfriend was slashed in the arm, breast and butt.

Officials says the injuries sustained by both Chris and his girlfriend are NOT life threatening. However, Copeland reportedly suffered a broken elbow in the attack and is undergoing surgery.

Cops say they arrested the person suspected of the stabbing -- 22-year-old Shezoy Bleary. Cops say Bleary used a switchblade in the attack.

Police say Copeland and his girlfriend were having a conversation when Bleary (who didn't know either of them) interjected ... and a fight ensued.

Two Atlanta Hawks players -- Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha -- were arrested at the scene for trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene.

Outside the club, Chris' GF told the media, "We were attacked out of nowhere by a f*cking black civilian."

She continued, "We have nothing to say. We are scared for our lives."

Copeland's teammate Paul George just tweeted about the incident -- saying, "Pray for my brother Chris."

9:40 AM PT -- Antic and Sefolosha left the 10th precinct Wednesday afternoon and are headed to court for their arraignment.

12:30 PM PT -- The two Hawks players were just in court briefly. Each was charged with resisting arrest and Obstructing Government Administration. They were released on their own recognizance and are due back in court on June 16.

12:50 PM PT -- According to the criminal complaint, Antic and Sefolosha were told six times to clear the scene, but would only "move a couple of feet away but refuse to clear the area."

When it came time to arrest Sefolosha, police say he flailed his arms, twisted his body and kicked his legs. It took four people, according to the complaint, to get him into cuffs.

12:12 PM PT -- A spokesman for the stadium insists the heater is NOT broken ... and says there's a perfectly good explanation.

"There is NO broken heater – but we opened the garage to let buses and allow a few packages to be delivered to the stadium – and that allowed the freezing air to come into the stadium."

"It was like opening the back door and letting the record temps into the building."

"The heater isn't broken -- and fans can expect it to stay that way ... and should be able to enjoy the game with no problem."

It's 14 degrees in Philadelphia ... and it seems like the heater has broken inside the Wells Fargo Center -- so the visiting Indiana Pacers are warming up in full sweats and winter gear.

Unclear when the heater crapped out ... but multiple team sources tell us the same thing -- "It's f**king freezing in here."

One player tells TMZ Sports, "It's like we are outside playing ball ... this ain't cool."

Pacers' star Paul George is at the stadium ... and tweeted, "Crazy my guys have to practice under these conditions in philly! #CutThatHeatOnDamnIt."

The game is scheduled to begin in less than 6 hours ... and as far as we know, the game is scheduled to go on as planned.

NBA star Roy Hibbert possesses a specific set of skills -- beyond hooping, that is -- and pretty soon he might be unbeatable ... as long as he keeps playing in Indiana.

The Pacers stud was outside Craig's in West Hollywood when we asked ... what's a city kid like himself do for fun in the heartland? Roy doesn't hesitate -- telling us there's not much to do except get super sharp at a particular video game. As he puts it ... his game is "pretty nice!"

Roy also gets a little nostalgic in this clip about his ex-teammate Lance Stephenson -- who bolted for the Hornets.

Paul George has a new lady in his life ... his 5-month-old daughter Olivia ... who he met for the first time Thursday -- and now TMZ Sports has learned the NBA star is gunning for joint custody of the child.

As we previously reported, George swore that he would "do the right thing" if a paternity test proved he fathered a child with a woman named "Daniella" who he had a relationship with in 2013.

Now, we've learned George is convinced he IS the daddy ... and his attorney is currently in the process of hammering out a joint custody arrangement with the mom.

Paul's attorney tells TMZ Sports ... "Paul has always wanted to accept responsibility and play a role in his daughter’s life -- and wanted to make sure it was handled properly through the legal system."