NEW YORK, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Rasheed Wallace, the Portland Trail Blazers' talented but temperamental forward, on Saturday was suspended seven games by the NBA for confronting and threatening a referee.
The incident allegedly took place in a parking lot outside the Rose Garden in Portland following the Trail Blazers' 100-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Wallace had a season-high 38 points and 10 rebounds but was given a technical foul with 9:45 left in the third quarter by referee Tim Donaghy. The call came after Wallace whipped the ball back to another official after he was called for a foul.
It was the fifth technical of the season for Wallace, who led the league with 41 technical fouls and seven ejections during the 2000-01 campaign.
Earlier this season, Wallace was fined $15,000 by the NBA after he went into the stands at Golden State when fans threw gum and plastic bottles at the Blazers. In November, he and teammate Damon Stoudamire were arrested for marijuana possession.
The Blazers (23-14) entered Saturday tied for second in the Pacific Division, five games behind the Sacramento Kings.
