ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — Five Indiana Pacers players and three fans charged in one of the most violent melees in NBA history each appeared in court separately yesterday and were released on bond.

The Pacers players, charged with misdemeanor assault and battery in the brawl with Detroit fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills, appeared for about three minutes each before District Judge Lisa Asadoorian.

Asadoorian allowed each of the players to leave the state and barred them from the Palace "except for employment-related purposes." Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, Anthony Johnson, David Harrison and Jermaine O'Neal also were told they must attend the next hearing in the case, scheduled for April.

Three fans charged with misdemeanor assault and battery — John Ackerman, William Paulson and John Green — also appeared in court and were released on bond.

David Wallace, brother of Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace, who also has been charged, was not in court, but his attorney appeared on his behalf, said Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton.

Bryant Jackson, a spectator at the Nov. 19 game, is charged with felonious assault for allegedly tossing a chair. He was ordered to stand trial following a preliminary examination that also took place yesterday in Asadoorian's courtroom.

• Future Hall of Fame forward Karl Malone is leaning toward retirement, according to a report in yesterday's Los Angeles Times. The report also stated that he will decide on his future in the next week or two.

"Probably toward retirement, just because that's what he is right now, theoretically," Malone's agent Dwight Manley told the paper. "Things usually go the direction of where you're at."

• Former Sonics coach George Karl, who works as an analyst for ESPN, met with Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe about the Nuggets' vacant coaching position Monday. The job has not been offered to Karl.

• Memphis placed leading scorer (18.9) and rebounder (8.2) Pau Gasol on the injured list with an injured left foot.

Memphis also activated guard Mike Miller, who had been on the IL since Jan. 14 with a concussion suffered in practice.

• Forward Tracy McGrady rejoined Houston yesterday for its trip to New Orleans, a day after missing a game against Orlando because of a family emergency.

• Tim Thomas was placed on the IL by the New York Knicks, who hope five or more games of rest will help cure the small forward's nagging calf injury.

• Cleveland rookie forward Anderson Varejao could miss six weeks with a severely sprained left ankle.