Martin Fined $15,000 for Profanities With Fans

Denver Nugget forward Kenyon Martin was fined $15,000 by the NBA on Monday for using inappropriate language, including profanity, during his interactions with fans after a home game last week against Chicago.

Two fans accused Martin of telling a man to confront them after one heckled Martin for sitting out the game Wednesday night because of an injured knee. One fan later said he exchanged words with Martin after the game. No police report was filed.

Martin said he knew the man, but denied involvement in the incident.

Martin also exchanged obscenities with reporter Dino Costa of the Radio Colorado Network on Friday night after the Nuggets beat Dallas. Nugget personnel removed Costa from the locker room.

In other news, forward Eduardo Najera is expected to miss two to three weeks after knee surgery.

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Cleveland Cavalier guard Larry Hughes will have surgery today for the second time in six weeks on his broken right middle finger.

Hughes was supposed to miss six to eight weeks after having surgery Jan. 6.

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For the second time in a week, a Milwaukee Buck chartered flight was forced to land because of mechanical problems.

The Bucks spent Sunday night in New Jersey after their plane experienced vibrations and the crew decided to return to Newark, a Midwest Airlines executive said. The Bucks were returning to Milwaukee.

On Feb. 6, a Midwest charter from Cleveland to Milwaukee was forced to land in Grand Rapids, Mich., because of a mechanical problem.

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With starter Chris Paul (ribs) and backup Speedy Claxton (concussion) nursing injuries, the New Orleans Hornets traded center Maciej Lampe to the Houston Rockets for point guard Moochie Norris.