Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart was suspended three games without pay by the NBA for throwing a punch that made contact with the face of Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey during a 115-108 win at Toyota Center.
Marcus Smart Ejected for Punching Charles Bassey
The incident occurred with 0:21 remaining in the third quarter after Rockets guard Amen Thompson drove to the rim for a transition basket that extended Houston’s lead. Smart and Bassey stood face-to-face exchanging words before Smart threw a right hook that grazed Bassey’s nose as Bassey stepped back.
Referee Mitchell Ervin witnessed the play directly, while Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos, and Brandin Podziemski rushed in alongside Thompson and referee Brandon Adair to separate the players. Smart was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and automatically ejected, walking straight down the tunnel to the locker room before officials finished their video review.
The physical confrontation followed a sequence where players had grown tangled during physical play. James Jones, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations, officially announced the three-game suspension without pay for the veteran guard, noting the punch made contact with the face of the Warriors center during the Nov. 11 contest.
Marcus Smart just threw a punch at Charles Bassey pic.twitter.com/OlAX9OogZ1
Entering the matchup, the Rockets held a 9-3 record. Smart joined the Houston franchise during the summer via free agency on a two-year contract worth $12.4 million and brings 12 years of league experience to the roster. Throughout nine appearances and one start for his new team, the defensive specialist has averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per contest.
Players and Coaches React to Altercation
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka explained that he spoke with Smart after the game regarding the buildup to the scuffle, noting that the two players had tangled previously.
3 game suspension for Marcus Smart will cost the guard $125,462. Houston will receive a tax variance credit or $62,731. They were $14,077 below the tax prior to the suspension.
“Marcus said they got wrapped up, and his elbow that he had hurt got bent up. So he said something to him, and Bassey said, ‘What you gonna do?’ and he did it,” said Udoka.
Bassey offered a sharp critique of Smart’s style of play and his actions during the postgame press conference at Toyota Center.
The NBA is suspending Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart for three games for punching Golden State center Charles Bassey on Wednesday night, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QOQFFyBd7I
“I remember the first half, I was trying to set a screen [and] he grabbed my knee. He was playing dirty,” said Bassey.
“I don’t think he was trying to play. I think he was trying to get himself out of the game. I think he was trying to chill. He wasn’t trying to hoop. That was fake toughness,” said Bassey.
“I think I was trying to get a rebound. He was grabbing my hand, and I was trying to run back on defense. Then he got up on me and just swung. Obviously, that was weak. I just think that was, honestly, fake toughness,” Warriors center Charles Bassey said. Teammate Draymond Green voiced support for the squad’s collective unity and defensive backing following the incident.
Golden State encountered additional adversity during the evening when star guard Stephen Curry exited the contest in the opening period due to right abdominal soreness after logging just three points in his minutes.
Marcus Smart has been suspended 3 games after his altercation with Charles Bassey last night pic.twitter.com/dzhNYclAyZ
Curry had entered the evening ranking second across the entire league by averaging 30.6 points per game. On the Houston side, Kevin Durant paced the victorious attack with 20 points, while Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson each contributed 19 points to snap an eight-game winning streak for Golden State.
“The spirit of this team is better,” Warriors teammate Draymond Green said.
MARCUS SMART EJECTED AFTER THROWING A PUNCH AT CHARLES BASSEY 😳🚨 pic.twitter.com/PR4n8TInFk
Salary Loss and Upcoming Schedule
Smart’s three-game suspension will cost him $125,462 in salary, while the Rockets are set to receive a tax variance credit of $62,731.
Smart will miss games against the Utah Jazz, the Washington Wizards, and the Miami Heat, making him eligible to return against the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 18.
Due to the absence of the veteran playmaker, backcourt teammates Reed Sheppard and Bogdan Bogdanovic are projected to absorb extra minutes on the floor. Sheppard provided a spark off the bench against Golden State by posting 13 points across 20 minutes of action. The squad’s upcoming schedule features matchups against opponents sitting below the .500 threshold in the standings.