NBA teams
Ian Begley, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Quincy Acy tossed after shoving Wall

NBA, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards

NEW YORK -- Well, at least the New York Knicks finally showed some fight.

Forward Quincy Acy was ejected from the Knicks' 102-91 Christmas Day loss against the Washington Wizards after a skirmish with star guard John Wall.

Acy shoved Wall when the Wizards guard had the ball with 5:31 to play in the game. Wall retaliated with a shove, and things escalated from there. It was unclear whether Acy threw a punch during the skirmish, but both players had to be separated by teammates.

Both Acy and Knicks coach Derek Fisher said that Acy did not throw a punch at Wall.

"I didn't throw a punch. I got up and reacted, then I just grabbed him," Acy said.

Acy received a flagrant foul 2 and was ejected from the game.

The league will review Acy's foul and may choose to fine or suspend him. The Knicks' next game is on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings.

When asked about a possible suspension, Acy said, "I hope not. What was done wrong?"

Acy explained that he was trying to foul Wall to stop the play because Knicks guard Pablo Prigioni was on the ground and the Knicks were down a man on defense.

"It was just a foul. If somebody has a fast break and you step up and grab them, it's the same concept," Acy said.

Wall received a technical for his role in the skirmish.

"I was just dribbling the ball up, and then I just got pushed with two elbows, and I got up and gave him a shove back, and then after that the refs and teammates broke it up, and that was the end of it for me," Wall said. "I was just running down the court. Usually I think I just get a regular foul [from defenders] but I could tell [by] like how he charged [that it was going to be a physical foul]. When I fell, I kind of was frustrated, but I didn't try to retaliate in the wrong way to get ejected or anything."

When asked whether Acy threw a punch at him, Wall replied: "I don't know. I ducked."

Fisher added that he hoped Acy wouldn't be suspended for shoving Wall because there was no punch thrown. He also said he had no reason to be upset with Acy's actions because there was no intent behind them.

"I think if there is intent to create that type of situation, then that's not necessarily who we want to become, but I don't think that was Quincy's intent," the coach said.

When asked about the altercation, Wizards forward Paul Pierce chalked the fight up to the tough nature of the sport.

"It is a physical game," Pierce said. "We always say, 'If you don't like physicality, go play golf.'"

ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.

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