VIDEO: Nowitzki not happy after Livingston's low blow

It's not completely foreign for low blows to occur near the basket. Ask Chris Paul. Still, by no means should this behavior be condoned.

Dirk Nowitzki for one, seemed none too pleased Saturday at this incursion by Shaun Livingston of the Golden State Warriors. Livingston almost sells his playing dumb routine too.

Following the game, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban - as he usually does - stuck up for his player, calling Livingston out on the play.

Nowitzki didn't seem too upset with Livingston after the game.

"Well, I give him the benefit of the doubt because he's really not that type of player," Nowitzki said. "He hasn't been his entire career. I'm not really sure what he was trying to do there, if he was trying to get to the ball through my legs or anything. But like I said, he's not a dirty player. He's actually a really, really good dude, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

"But I really enjoyed his tight grip he got," Nowitzki added, laughing. "I really enjoyed that."

Livingston also heard from Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, and understood the frustration coming from Dallas' end. 

"(Cuban) was, I think, in the moment, and sticking up for his guys." 

Livingston maintained his innocence after the game.

"(Nowitzki) kind of sat back to create space with his lower area, and it was just bad timing. Eleven years in the league, I haven't had a dirty play. I haven't made a name in this league playing that way. It looked worse than it actually was.

"It's Dirk Nowitzki. It's a Hall of Fame player. You don't do that to somebody like that."