A scuffle between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night has now led to a multi-game suspension for a key role player on a top team in the Western Conference to start the 2026-27 season. The NBA announced it’s suspending Rockets guard Marcus Smart after he threw a punch at Warriors center Charles Bassey during a mid-game tussle that happened as Houston’s Amen Thompson was taking the ball to the basket on a fastbreak.

Smart was hit with a three-game suspension by the NBA for throwing the punch. He was assessed with a Flagrant-2 foul and was subsequently ejected from the game after the play. He’ll miss games against the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat, with the last two being road games.

The Rockets beat the Warriors, 115-108, to keep pace at the top of the West. Watch Smart’s punch here:

Smart has been one of the best value free agent signings in the league early in the season. He’s still bringing defense toughness, and he’s shooting 40% from three through the first 12 games of the season.

Here’s the official press release from the league on Smart’s suspension:

The Rockets are fortunate to have an easy schedule while Smart is out. Still: only a fool would punch another player on a basketball court, and the refs made the right decision in the moment with the Flagrant-2. A three-game suspension is a severe penalty, but Smart deserved it.