Isiah Thomas denied he said anything about breaking Bruce Bowen's neck during their profanity-laced altercation Saturday night in San Antonio, and defended his actions of picking a fight with a player.

Bowen told a San Antonio newspaper he heard Thomas yell to break his neck.

"That's not true," Thomas said. "I said the next time he goes up, stick your foot underneath his like he sticks his under yours and see how he feels if his foot is broken."

Before facing the Cavaliers last night, Thomas said he did not regret seeing the replays of his verbal attack on Bowen and his yelling to his players, "Next time he does that to you, break his [bleeping] foot."

Thomas also got into it with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and had to be held back by assistant coach Herb Williams.