Marcus Smart Throws Punch At Warriors Player, Ejected From Rockets Game

Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart was ejected after he threw a punch and just barely grazed the face of Golden State Warriors forward Charles Bassey.

The incident came with 21 seconds left to play in the third quarter of a game Wednesday, Nov. 11, during a stoppage.

Just before the punch was thrown, Smart and Bassey got tangled up under the rim when trying to box out during a Warriors possession. The two continued to jaw at each other up the floor. Then, when play halted, Smart squared up and threw a right-handed hook that nearly landed on Bassey’s cheek. Bassey had moved his head backward to avoid contact. Officials later said that Smart made contact to Bassey’s nose.

Marcus Smart was assessed a flagrant 2 and ejected after throwing a punch at Charles Bassey. pic.twitter.com/50qOhVowK3

— ESPN (@espn) November 12, 2026

One official immediately grabbed Bassey and separated him, while players from both teams swarmed around Smart to deescalate. Several Warriors players on the floor also took exception to the punch and were shouting at Smart, who then walked off the floor and headed straight into the locker room, surely aware that he would be tossed for the gesture.

Officials then reviewed the sequence and determined that Smart would draw a flagrant foul 2, which draws an automatic ejection.

Smart scored 6 points on 2-of-2 shooting and added 2 rebounds and 1 assist prior to his removal. Bassey was not disciplined whatsoever for his role in the matter.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka relayed Smart's view of the altercation after the game.

"Marcus, I just talked to him, he said they got wrapped up and his elbow that he had hurt got bent up. And so he said something to him and Bassey said 'What you going to do?' and he did it," Udoka said.

Bassey shared his view of the altercation postgame as well. He called Smart's play throughout the game "dirty" and said the altercation was Smart showing "fake toughness."

Charles Bassey on Marcus Smart throwing a punch at him: “Fake toughness.”

“I don’t think he was trying to play. I think he was trying to get himself out of the game.” pic.twitter.com/ZxbgvUDeY9

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 12, 2026

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marcus Smart throws punch at Warriors player, ejected from Rockets game