Rockets guard Marcus Smart was ejected Wednesday night in Houston after throwing a right hook that grazed Warriors center Charles Bassey's nose during the third quarter. Houston went on to beat Golden State 115-108. The ejection was the 13th of Smart's career and his first since the 2023-24 season, when he played for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The confrontation followed a transition basket by Rockets guard Amen Thompson that extended Houston's lead with 21 seconds remaining in the quarter. After the basket, Smart and Bassey exchanged words while standing face to face. Golden State forward Yaxel Lendeborg tried to separate them before Smart threw the punch.
Bassey stepped backward to avoid the swing, but Smart's right hand grazed his nose. Referee Mitchell Ervin was directly in front of the incident. Thompson, Warriors players Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski, and referee Brandon Adair then intervened to separate the players.
Smart walked directly to the locker room without waiting for officials to finish reviewing the incident. Following the review, Ervin announced a flagrant foul 2 for the contact with Bassey's nose. That ruling carries an automatic ejection.
After the game, Rockets coach Ime Udoka said he had spoken with Smart about the confrontation. According to Udoka, Smart said the players became tangled and his previously injured elbow was bent. Udoka said Smart then addressed Bassey, who challenged him about what he would do, before Smart threw the punch.
Bassey offered a different account, accusing Smart of dirty play throughout the game. He said Smart had grabbed his knee while he was attempting to set a screen in the first half. Describing the sequence surrounding the later confrontation, Bassey said he believed he had been trying to collect a rebound when Smart grabbed his hand as he attempted to return to defense.
Bassey said Smart then approached him and swung, characterizing the incident as "fake toughness." He said the punch did not surprise him because he had expected Smart to do something. Bassey also expressed his belief that Smart was trying to get himself removed from the game rather than continue playing.
Smart, 32, finished with six points, two rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. The 12-year veteran signed with Houston in free agency over the summer. Through nine games, including one start, he is averaging 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals.
