Nene, Olowokandi Are Ejected

Latrell Sprewell scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Minnesota Timberwolves ended a three-game losing streak despite a quiet night from Kevin Garnett, beating the Denver Nuggets, 93-83, Friday night in a game marred by a fight involving Nene and Michael Olowokandi.

The bad feelings started in the second quarter, when Denver’s Nene was called for a technical foul for elbowing Olowokandi under Denver’s basket.

The two tangled again with 7.1 seconds left in the third quarter. Fighting for position under Minnesota’s basket, Olowokandi twice pushed Nene, who shoved the Timberwolf center back. Olowokandi started yelling at Nene, then pushed him in the face.

Nugget Coach Michael Cooper and players from both sides tried to separate the players, but Nene charged in throwing punches, landing one to the side of Olowokandi’s head. The two players then started flailing at each other.

Olowokandi was booed as he headed down the tunnel to Minnesota’s locker room, but police officers lined the stands to make sure no one threw anything.