The Pistons got Rasheed Wallace back, then lost him because he couldn't keep his mouth shut.
Wallace will have to sit out Wednesday's road game against New Jersey after picking up his 16th technical of the season Tuesday in Cleveland. Once a player reaches 16 technical fouls in a season, he must serve a league-imposed one-game suspension. Every other technical the rest of the regular season will result in another one-game suspension. Wallace had missed the previous 11 games with a left calf injury. He picked up his 16th technical foul at the end of the third quarter protesting a foul called against Tayshaun Prince. Prince tried to draw a charge against LeBron James, but the foul went against Prince.
"It was a stupid-star call, that's what it was and that's what I told the ref (Bennie Adams)," said Wallace, who had nine points and nine rebounds in his return. "Tay was there. But that's what happens when you speak the truth."
Head coach Michael Curry wasn't pleased with Wallace, who came off the bench so that he could be eased back into action.
"He knew he was one tech away," Curry said. "That's it on that."
Shooting guard Richard Hamilton is also unhappy that Wallace lost his composure and won't play.
"Not having him out there is huge," he said.
Wallace had only practiced once since he suffered the injury. He tried to maintain some cardiovascular conditioning by riding the stationary bike.
CAVALIERS 79, PISTONS 73: The Pistons played the game at their pace but shot just 35 percent from the field and fell two games below .500. They had five more turnovers than assists and Richard Hamilton's 13 points were enough to lead the team. Four of those turnovers came in the late going after they led 69-67.
Cleveland won its 16th game this month despite 38.6 percent shooting and Detroit's 53-43 rebounding advantage. LeBron James had 25 points and 12 rebounds.
