Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images Usher doesn't think his intimate moment with Alicia ... he and Keys' music producer husband, 45, laughed about what people were saying about the pair's close hug on ...

However, supporters of Keys and Usher noted the warmth of their embrace, with one fan mentioning, "That hug Alicia and Usher did made me smile when they both smiled, idk, it was cute and wholesome." ...

While the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers players regrouped at halftime, Usher took the field to perform with surprise guests Alicia Keys, Ludacris and Lil Jon, among others.