When Ron Artest finally got a chance to bang against his new teammates for the first time in a Saturday practice, he came away just as bruised as those on the receiving end.

And he came away with something else. The new Kings forward found that he may not be the only tough guy in the house.

"I thought, They've got some bodies on this team, the potential to put a hurt on some teams, to intimidate," Artest said, naming off half the roster. "And Bonzi (Wells) is huge at the two position. Man, we've got some tools here."

Wells would second that. Before he went down with a partial groin tear that sidelined him for 19 games, Wells was the Kings' most energized and frenetic performer, not at all afraid of contact or to chase down a rebound.

Now, with Tuesday's showing against the Denver Nuggets an indicator, he has a running mate in Artest with similar motors, with plenty more room on the hustle bandwagon. In Wells and Artest, the Kings have a muscle-bound 1-2 punch, defenders who can check players of different sizes and skills.

"Put me and Ron out there, and we're two of the biggest guys around," Wells, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound shooting guard, said after the Kings polished off the Nuggets 98-91. "We combine for 500 pounds. We're trying to be a load for everyone. There were times before (Artest was acquired) when I felt like I was the only guy who could guard (the other team's top players). Now he can guard a guy, and then I can take over."