Three Game Ban for Marcus Smart
Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart has been suspended for three games without pay by the NBA after throwing a punch at Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey. The league announced the suspension on Thursday following the incident during Wednesday night's game.
Smart was ejected from the match after receiving a flagrant foul 2. The penalty means he will miss Houston's home game against the Utah Jazz on Friday, followed by road matches against the Washington Wizards on Sunday and the Miami Heat on Monday.
The Rockets won the game 115-108 and hold a 9-3 record, putting them third in the Western Conference. Smart joined Houston as a free agent over the summer. The 12 year veteran is averaging 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals over nine games this season with one start.
How the Incident Happened
The clash occurred late in the third quarter with 21 seconds left on the clock. Rockets guard Amen Thompson drove to the rim for a transition bucket to extend Houston's lead.
After the play, Smart and Bassey stood face to face jawing at each other. Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg tried to step between them to keep them apart. Smart then threw a right hook that grazed Bassey's nose as the center stepped back to slip the punch.
Referee Mitchell Ervin watched the incident happen right in front of him. Thompson, along with Golden State players Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski and referee Brandon Adair, quickly stepped in to separate the players.
Reactions from Coach Udoka and Bassey
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said he spoke with Smart after the game. Smart told him that he and Bassey got wrapped up and his previously injured elbow got bent. Udoka stated that Bassey asked Smart what he was going to do, and Smart did it.
Bassey gave a different account and criticized Smart after the game. Bassey said Smart played dirty the whole game, pointing out that Smart grabbed his knee on a screen in the first half and grabbed his hand while trying to get a rebound.
Bassey called the punch fake toughness. He said he believed Smart was not trying to play basketball and was simply trying to get himself thrown out of the game to chill.
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