Marcus Smart Ejected After Punching Charles Bassey in NBA Game

Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart was ejected during a 115-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors after throwing a punch at center Charles Bassey, BILD reported.

The incident occurred with 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter at the Toyota Center when the two players tangled during a rebound attempt, resulting in Smart’s injured elbow being twisted.

Referee Mitchell Ervin watched as the players went chest-to-chest in a heated verbal exchange before Bassey provoked his opponent by asking what he was going to do.

“What are you going to do?” Charles Bassey asked, according to BILD.

Smart lost his temper and swung a right hook that lightly grazed Bassey’s nose after the Warriors center pulled his head back in time. Teammates quickly intervened to prevent a mass brawl while Smart walked straight to the locker room before officials reviewed the play on the monitor.

Referees reviewed the TV footage and assessed a Flagrant Foul 2, resulting in an automatic ejection for the veteran guard after 17 minutes of play.

Smart finished the contest with six points, two rebounds, and one assist before his early exit.

Bassey criticized his opponent after the final buzzer, claiming the reaction was calculated.

“His fake toughness,” Charles Bassey told BILD, accusing Smart of intentionally provoking the ejection because he no longer wanted to play.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka offered a different perspective on the altercation in his postgame comments.

“An affective reaction to the painful action against the injured elbow,” Ime Udoka told BILD, defending his player’s conduct.