Denver's Martin banned one game for elbow incident

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kenyon Martin of the Denver Nuggets was suspended without pay for one game on Saturday after hitting Melvin Ely of the New Orleans Hornets in the head with his elbow on Wednesday.

The ban, which Martin served in Saturday's game against the San Antonio Spurs, was announced by the NBA's Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson.

Martin is averaging 9.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this season. He had played in 20 of the Nuggets' first 22 games, all as a starter.

(Writing by Mike Shalin; Editing by Ed Osmond)