Retour
Marcus Smart missed the fourth quarter of the Houston Rockets' game against the Golden State Warriors. The NBA might decide he needs to miss even more time.
The veteran guard was ejected on a Flagrant 2 foul after throwing a punch at Warriors center Charles Bassey in the final minutes of the third quarter. The dispute appeared to be instigated when the two players got tangled up on a rebound, with Smart throwing the punch moments later.
Smart clearly knew what was coming after the punch, as he immediately walked off the court rather than wait to hear the officials' ruling. Judging from the replay, it's unclear if the punch even made contact.
Not only was Smart ejected, he can also expect a mandatory fine for the flagrant foul as well as a likely suspension from the NBA. The league's rulebook is fairly clear on that matter:
Any player who throws a punch, whether it connects or not, has committed an unsportsmanlike act. He will be ejected following confirmation during review by instant replay and suspended for a minimum of one game.
Smart exited the game with 6 points on 2-for-2 shooting (both 3-pointers), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover and 4 personal fouls in 17 minutes.