"It was almost like a playoff finals game," Nuggets coach Michael Cooper said after Minnesota's 93-83 victory.

Fighting for position under Minnesota's basket, Olowokandi twice pushed Nene, who retaliated with a head-butt. Olowokandi started yelling at Nene, then pushed him in the face.

Referee Bennett Salvatore and players from both sides tried to separate them, but Nene charged in throwing punches, landing one to the side of Olowokandi's head. The two players then started flailing at each other in front of the scorer's table before finally being pulled apart and escorted from the floor.

``It's a physical game, and it should be played within the constraints of what the game allows legally, and the refs should stop it before it gets out of hand,'' Olowokandi said. ``Head-butting crosses that line.''