Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart handed 3-game ban after swinging at Warriors center Charles Bassey
The NBA suspended the Houston Rockets guard without pay on Thursday after swinging at, then grazing, Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey.
Key points
- Bassey accused Smart of playing dirty all night, alleging the guard grabbed his knee while Bassey tried to set a screen in the first half.
- Smart and Bassey got tied up fighting for position under the glass, barked at each other trailing the play, and Smart uncorked a right hook that grazed Bassey's nose.
- Bassey, who finished with seven points and six rebounds in 13 minutes, was unimpressed by the swing and unloaded on Smart in the locker room.
FAN EJECTED FROM NBA GAME AFTER HITTING FEMALE REF WITH BALL AS MELODRAMATIC LAKERS STAR THROWS TANTRUM According to Udoka, Smart claimed Bassey wrapped up Smart's previously injured elbow during the tangle.
Additional details
- When Smart confronted him about it, Bassey allegedly replied, "What you gonna do?" "And he did it," Udoka told reporters.
- A late-game punch just cost Marcus Smart three games.
- Bassey admitted he baited Smart into reacting and dismissed the punch as an excuse to clock out early.
- He will sit out Friday's home matchup against the Utah Jazz, Sunday's road game in Washington and Monday's trip to Miami before becoming eligible to return Nov.
- After the game, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka relayed Smart's excuse for throwing hands.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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