http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2051570
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Pistons center Ben Wallace won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for the third time in four years, a source within the league said Monday.
The Pistons scheduled an afternoon news conference, and the source, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, said Wallace would be presented with the award at that time.
Wallace also won it in 2002 and 2003.
During the regular season, he ranked fifth with 2.38 blocks per game, second with 12.2 rebounds a game and 23rd with 1.43 steals a game. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Wallace ranks second in the playoffs with three blocks a game.
The defending champion Pistons will try to clinch their first-round series against Philadelphia when they host Game 5 against the 76ers on Tuesday.
Philadelphia coach Jim O'Brien has marveled at Wallace's ability to pressure players rebounding the ball, then harass the point guard as he dribbles up the court.
Wallace drew a charge near the Sixers' basket on such a sequence in Philadelphia against 6-foot, 165-pound Allen Iverson, one of the NBA's quickest players.