Overview
- Smart chased Warriors center Charles Bassey late in the third quarter Wednesday night, threw a right-handed hook that grazed Bassey’s nose, and was assessed a Flagrant 2 that produced an immediate ejection after replay review.
- Referee crew chief Mitchell Ervin confirmed the contact to Bassey’s nose during the officials’ review and players from both teams moved in to separate the men before Smart left for the locker room.
- Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Smart told him the altercation began when Bassey bent a previously injured elbow and then challenged him, while Bassey told reporters he had baited Smart and called the action “fake toughness.”
- Houston held on for a 115–108 win without Smart, who finished with six points, two rebounds and one assist in about 16–17 minutes, but the ejection could affect Houston’s rotation if the league imposes the expected suspension.
- The incident has been sent to the NBA office for review and, given the rule that any thrown punch leads to at least an automatic ejection and past precedents of one-game minimum suspensions, a fine or suspension is likely to be announced before the Rockets’ next game.