Now Artest wants to stay with Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS — One week after his show of defiance, Ron Artest's attitude has shifted toward compliance, the Indianapolis Star reported.

The Pacers forward expanded on his desire to remain with the team in a telephone interview, claiming he "made a big mistake" by asking to be traded.

Whether Artest can rebuild a bridge to the franchise remains to be seen, but he has begun the effort. He talked with CEO Donnie Walsh, who traded for him in February 2002, and spoke with Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal. Artest called other players as well but wasn't able to reach them and planned to call coach Rick Carlisle on Sunday night.

Some of Artest's teammates, most notably O'Neal, have been critical. Artest said he doesn't blame them.

"Under the circumstances, I'd be pretty mad at me, too," he said. "I'm mad at myself anyway. Going about things like I did, it's not easy to recover.

"But I'd love to play for the Pacers organization right now."

O'Neal has taken a "him or me" stand on Artest in comments to the media. Artest would not divulge the nature of their conversation but regretted not talking to him earlier.

"I know Jermaine is open to listening to me," Artest said. "I should have gone to him with any issues before."

Walsh, who spent much of last week listening to trade offers, declined comment about Artest's attempt at reconciliation.

YAO MISSES GAME: All-Star Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets missed his first game of the season and the third of his NBA career Sunday night because of a sore right big toe that will sideline him indefinitely.

"It's not a one-game thing," coach Jeff Van Gundy said before the Rockets met the Los Angeles Lakers in the finale of a six-game road trip. "It will probably be a multiple-game thing, whatever that is. We'll know more after he sees the doctor.

"He doesn't miss much. So when he misses, he's hurt."

Yao returned home before Sunday night's game. He has had a problem with his right big toe for some time, missing two preseason games because it was bothering him.

The 25-year-old center has played in 266 regular-season games since joining the Rockets in 2002. Houston returns to action Wednesday night at home against Toronto.

"We can still win," Van Gundy said. "Obviously, your chances are better when you have your better players."