Overview
- The sequence began on Wednesday, Nov. 11 when Smart and Charles Bassey tangled on a rebound and Smart then threw a right-handed punch that led to an immediate stoppage and separation by players and officials.
- Game officials sent the play to the NBA Replay Center in Secaucus, which ruled the contact unnecessary and excessive and assessed Smart a Flagrant 2 that triggered an automatic ejection.
- Officials said the punch made contact with Bassey’s nose though some accounts describe the connection as minimal or unclear.
- Smart finished with about 16–17 minutes and six points before being ejected and the Rockets still won 115-108, but his absence late in the third quarter altered Houston’s rotation for the finish of the game.
- Rockets coach Ime Udoka relayed Smart’s explanation that Bassey had grabbed Smart’s injured elbow, and the league will now weigh additional discipline with precedent suggesting a fine or multi-game suspension is likely.