Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart was suspended three games without pay Thursday for throwing a punch that struck Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey.
Smart was ejected with 21 seconds left in the third quarter of Houston’s 115-108 win Wednesday after the two players got into a confrontation following an Amen Thompson basket.
Smart and Bassey exchanged words as they moved back up the floor, and Smart threw a right hand that connected with Bassey’s face. Officials assessed Smart a flagrant foul 2 after reviewing the play.
The NBA announced the suspension Thursday, meaning Smart will miss Houston’s home game against the Utah Jazz on Friday, as well as road games against the Washington Wizards on Sunday and the Miami Heat on Monday.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said afterward that Smart told him the confrontation began when Bassey bent his previously injured elbow as the players became tangled up.
“So he said something to him, and Bassey said, ‘What you gonna do?’ and he did it,” Udoka said.
Bassey was sharply critical of Smart after the game, accusing him of playing dirty earlier in the contest and calling the punch “fake toughness.”
Smart, 32, joined Houston on a two-year, $13 million deal during the offseason after spending last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 8.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists over nine games, including one start. He is shooting 43.9% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.
Houston improved to 9-3 with Wednesday’s victory and entered Thursday third in the Western Conference.
