Rockets' Marcus Smart Ejected for Punch at Warriors' Charles Bassey
Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors after throwing a punch at Warriors center Charles Bassey late in the third quarter.
Smart was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected. The dispute appeared to start when the two players got tangled up on a rebound, with Smart throwing the punch moments later. Smart walked off the court before officials announced their ruling.
The incident came with 21 seconds left in the third quarter, NBC Sports Bay Area reported. After a review, officials concluded Smart made contact with Bassey's nose, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. The Houston Chronicle reported that the referee said Smart's right hand made contact with Bassey's nose. Bassey did not retaliate and made one of two free throws awarded on the flagrant foul. No injury to Bassey was reported.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said after the game that Smart confronted Bassey about wrapping up his elbow on the rebound, to which Bassey replied, "What you gonna do?" Smart responded with the punch, Udoka said.
The NBA has not announced any discipline. League rules state that any player who throws a punch, "whether it connects or not, has committed an unsportsmanlike act" and will be ejected after confirmation by instant replay and "suspended for a minimum of one game." Any discipline would be decided by the league.
Smart finished with six points on 2-of-2 shooting from 3-point range, two rebounds and one assist in about 17 minutes, according to the NBA box score. The Rockets won 115-108. Golden State played most of the game without Stephen Curry, whom the Warriors ruled out in the first quarter with right abdominal soreness.
