With 12 games left in the season, Rasheed Wallace remains three technical fouls short of a mandatory one-game suspension. His teammate, Kendrick Perkins, is only two technicals shy.

Perkins knows the blueprint to avoid technicals, though whether he does so is another issue. (Boston Globe)

“My technical fouls have been tangle-ups,’’ said Perkins, who had 7 points, 8 rebounds, and no technicals in 24 minutes. “It hasn’t been at the refs, it’s been tangle-ups. I’m just trying to do a better job of not getting them. I’m trying not to get any more. You’ve got to knock on wood.’’

That Perk and Wallace have both avoided the one-game suspension so far qualifies as a minor miracle, but it might be due to Doc Rivers’ approach to dealing with their tempers.

“I told them all, ‘If you want to hurt the team you’re going to hurt the team,’ ’’ Rivers said. “There’s nothing I can do other than that. If you get to 16 and you get suspended, it could be a very important night that you’re not playing and it hurts the team.’’

Doc takes the hands-off approach when dealing with his volatile players, but his wife is less forgiving.

“Every time I get a fine or tech,” Rivers said, “I get a nice, pleasant fine from my wife.’’

I’ll try not to imagine what Doc means by that.