The NBA suspended Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart three games without pay on Thursday for striking Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey during Wednesday’s game at Toyota Center.
The incident occurred with 21 seconds left in the third quarter. After Amen Thompson’s transition layup, Smart threw a right hook that made light contact with Bassey’s nose. Referee Mitchell Ervin observed the act. Smart received a flagrant foul 2 and was ejected. Teammates and officials separated the two players immediately.
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Smart will miss Friday’s home game against the Utah Jazz, Sunday’s road game at the Washington Wizards and Monday’s road game at the Miami Heat.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Smart told him his previously injured elbow bent during the exchange. Udoka recounted Smart saying Bassey responded to provocation with “What you gonna do?” — then Smart swung.
Bassey called the punch “fake toughness.” He said Smart grabbed his knee while setting a screen in the first half, held his hand during a rebound scramble and then advanced before swinging. “I don’t think he was trying to hoop,” Bassey said. “That was fake toughness.”
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