Overview
- With 21 seconds left in the third quarter on Wednesday, Rockets guard Marcus Smart chased Warriors center Charles Bassey, threw a right-handed hook and officials ruled the blow grazed Bassey’s nose.
- Referees upgraded the call to a Flagrant-2 after replay review which automatically ejected Smart and led him to walk straight to the locker room before the ruling was announced.
- Warriors center Charles Bassey called Smart’s actions “fake toughness” and accused Smart of playing dirty, while Rockets coach Ime Udoka relayed Smart’s account that a previously injured elbow had been bent and that Bassey provoked him.
- Houston held on for a 115-108 win despite Smart’s ejection and the earlier loss of Stephen Curry to an abdominal issue in the first quarter.
- Under NBA rules any player who throws a punch is ejected after review and faces at least a one-game suspension and a possible fine at the commissioner’s discretion so further discipline for Smart is widely expected.