National Basketball Association

Knicks' Wallace ejected for 31st time

Published Dec. 2, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rasheed Wallace picked up two technical fouls and was ejected for the first time since returning to the NBA in the first quarter of the Knicks' victory over Phoenix on Sunday.

Wallace played only 1:25 off the bench before getting upset after fouling Luis Scola. He was called for a first technical for hitting Scola across the arm after the whistle, then hit with the second and an automatic ejection after yelling ''Ball don't lie!'' — his way of saying the call was wrong — toward an official after Goran Dragic missed the free throw.

It was Wallace's 31st career ejection, most in the NBA since 1991-92, according to STATS, LLC. The temperamental forward has been called for more than 300 techs in his career, leading the league seven times. He said before the season that at 38 he was too old to be clashing with officials after a two-year retirement, but with four techs he is now within one of the league lead.

Carmelo Anthony said he thought Wallace's reputation was held against him Sunday.

''I mean, he's the only guy in the league that gets technicals for saying `Ball don't lie,''' Anthony said. ''So, I mean that should tell you right there.''

Anthony said Wallace, who did not speak to the media, apologized to the team before leaving.