The NBA announced on Thursday that Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart has been suspended for three games without pay. The disciplinary action follows an incident during Wednesday night's 115-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors, in which Smart threw a punch at Warriors center Charles Bassey.
The altercation occurred with 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Smart was assessed a flagrant-2 foul and ejected from the game after his right hook made contact with Bassey’s nose. The incident took place as teammates and officials, including referee Mitchell Ervin, moved to separate the players.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka stated after the game that he had spoken with Smart regarding the confrontation. According to Udoka, Smart indicated that the two players became entangled and that his previously injured elbow was bent during the exchange, leading to a verbal dispute before the punch was thrown.
Bassey offered a different account of the event, accusing Smart of playing aggressively throughout the contest. The Warriors center described the actions as "fake toughness" and claimed that Smart had been engaging in physical tactics, including grabbing his knee earlier in the match, throughout the evening.
Smart, a 12-year veteran who joined the Rockets as a free agent this past summer, will be sidelined for Houston's upcoming games. He is set to miss the home fixture against the Utah Jazz on Friday, followed by road games against the Washington Wizards on Sunday and the Miami Heat on Monday.
The Rockets currently hold a 9-3 record and sit in third place in the Western Conference. Smart is expected to return to the lineup next Wednesday for the team's matchup against the Indiana Pacers.
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