Wallace Suspended for Seven Games

Portland Trail Blazer forward Rasheed Wallace was suspended Saturday for seven games without pay for confronting and threatening a referee outside the team’s arena.

Referees mentioned the confrontation in a routine report filed after Portland’s 100-92 victory over Memphis last Wednesday.

“He accosted a referee and threatened him,” NBA senior vice president Stu Jackson said Saturday.

Jackson refused to elaborate on the confrontation, which happened after the game in the Rose Garden arena loading dock, where players and other game personnel park their cars.

“It’s absolutely not fair,” Portland Coach Maurice Cheeks said before his team’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I certainly don’t believe he deserved seven games. I think this is a result of Rasheed’s reputation and the Portland Trail Blazers’ reputation.”

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The Orlando Magic put six-time All-Star forward Grant Hill on the injured list because of chronic pain in his surgically repaired left ankle, and there was no timetable for his return.