Kings co-owner Joe Maloof, upset that Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin knocked center Spencer Hawes to the floor on a fast break attempt, has asked for an apology.
Hawes, who was pushed to the floor by Martin, converted a pair of free throws before being escorted to the locker room with an injured knee.
"That was thuggery," said Maloof, "and you can quote me on that. Kenyon Martin wasn't trying to block the shot. He went right at Spencer when he was running full speed and at the (height) of his jump, when he was most vulnerable.
"Completely unnecessary. The Nuggets might not want to hear this, but there was no excuse for that, and he (Martin) needs to apologize to Spencer and our organization. That just wasn't right."
An MRI has since revealed no serious damage in Hawes' knee, which has been diagnosed as strained.