The NBA does not look favorably on players who throw punches during a game. Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart was suspended three games without pay by the NBA on Thursday after throwing a punch at Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey during Wednesday’s game.
In its statement, the league specifically states that the punch hit Bassey’s face. The suspension is expected to cover Houston’s games against the Utah Jazz on Friday, the Washington Wizards on Sunday and the Miami Heat on Monday.
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The incident occurred in the third quarter of Houston’s 115-108 victory. With less than a minute left in the quarter, Smart and Bassey appeared to exchange words on the court. Smart then punched Bassey right in front of an official.
Smart was assessed a flagrant foul of 2 and ejected from the contest. He had already left the court by the time officials announced the punishment.
Smart finished the game with 6 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist.
Under NBA rules, Smart faces – at minimum – a fine for flagrant fouling and a suspension for punching, which comes with a minimum one-game ban in the NBA rulebook:
Any player who throws a punch, whether connected or not, commits an unsportsmanlike act. He will be ejected after confirmation during instant replay review and suspended for at least one match.
The incident occurred after Smart and Bassey tangled during a rebound attempt. After the game, Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Smart confronted Bassey after the Warriors center wrapped Smart’s elbow during the play. Bassey allegedly told Smart “what are you going to do”, leading to the punch attempt.
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Bassey, meanwhile, had something to say about what he calls Smart’s “false toughness”:
Smart’s absence ultimately didn’t hurt the Rockets too much, as the team still managed to get a victory. It probably helped that Warriors star Stephen Curry suffered a torn oblique early in the contest, missing much of the game.
Curry is now expected to miss time with the oblique tear.
Gn sports
