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Rockets’ Marcus Smart suspended three games without pay for punching Warriors center Charles Bassey
By Adrian Cole
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Photo: Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart has been suspended three games without pay for throwing a punch at Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey during an on-court confrontation, the NBA announced Thursday, according to ESPN and CBS Sports.
The league’s disciplinary decision, reported by CBS Sports, cited Smart for “throwing a punch that made contact with the face” of Bassey. ESPN reported that Smart was suspended for three games without pay.
The incident occurred late in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s game between Houston and Golden State, a 115-108 Rockets victory in Houston, according to both outlets.
ESPN reported that Smart and Bassey confronted each other face to face after Rockets guard Amen Thompson scored a transition basket with 21 seconds remaining in the quarter. As Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg attempted to separate them, Smart threw a right hook that grazed Bassey’s nose as the Warriors center stepped back. ESPN reported that Smart received a flagrant 2 foul and was ejected.
CBS Sports described the sequence differently, reporting that Smart and Bassey first got tangled up at the other end of the floor, after which Smart chased Bassey down and punched toward his head. The players were quickly separated, according to CBS Sports, which also reported that Smart was ejected with a flagrant 2 foul.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said after the game that Smart told him their arms had become entangled and that Smart’s previously injured elbow had been bent. ESPN reported Udoka’s account of the exchange: “So he said something to him, and Bassey said, ‘What you gonna do?’ and he did it,” Udoka said.
Bassey described a series of confrontations with Smart during the game. ESPN reported that Bassey accused Smart of playing dirty “the whole game” and characterized the punch as “fake toughness.” Bassey also told ESPN he had experienced contact with Smart while attempting to set a screen and later while pursuing a rebound.
ESPN reported that Smart will miss Friday’s home game against the Utah Jazz, Sunday’s game at the Washington Wizards and Monday’s game at the Miami Heat. CBS Sports also identified Utah, Washington and Miami as Houston’s next three opponents, describing all three as below .500. Neither report established Smart’s return date or identified a specific game for his return.
The reports did not establish whether Bassey suffered an injury or required medical treatment. Neither outlet reported a separate monetary fine or disciplinary action against Bassey.
Smart joined Houston in free agency over the summer and is averaging 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals through nine games, with one start, according to ESPN. ESPN described him as a 12-year veteran, while CBS Sports reported that his career discipline record includes 12 ejections, nine fines, excluding flopping and technical-foul fines, and two suspensions across 13 years.
The Rockets entered Thursday at 9-3 and in third place in the Western Conference, according to ESPN. The suspension will leave Houston without Smart for its next three games.
Adrian Cole
NBA Writer, The Library Media
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