Marcus Smart received his 13th career ejection on Wednesday after throwing a punch at Charles Bassey during the Rockets' 115-108 victory over the Warriors.
The Houston Rockets defeated the Golden State Warriors 115-108 on Wednesday night, a contest marked by the third-quarter ejection of Rockets guard Marcus Smart. With 21 seconds remaining in the period, Smart threw a right hook that grazed the nose of Warriors center Charles Bassey. The physical altercation occurred immediately after Amen Thompson scored a transition basket to extend Houston's lead.
Referee Mitchell Ervin assessed Smart with a flagrant foul 2 for contact to the nose following an official review. Smart, who did not wait for the ruling, headed to the locker room immediately after the incident. Before his departure, the 32-year-old veteran recorded six points, two rebounds, and one assist in 16 minutes of play.
The confrontation began as Smart and Bassey stood face-to-face jawing while Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg attempted to separate them. Thompson, Gui Santos, Brandin Podziemski, and referee Brandon Adair eventually intervened to move the players apart. This incident marks Smart’s first ejection since the 2023-24 season and his 13th overall in a 12-year NBA career. Through nine games with Houston, the summer free-agent acquisition is averaging 8.6 points and 1.1 steals per contest.
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