Reports differed on whether Marcus Smart’s swing struck Charles Bassey. The Houston Chronicle reported that the referee said Smart’s right hand made contact with Bassey’s nose, while The Athletic said the hand appeared to stop short of Bassey’s face. Those accounts do not resolve the discrepancy.
The play unfolded with 21 seconds left in the third quarter of Houston’s game against Golden State, according to The Athletic. The Houston Chronicle reported that Smart and Bassey had been tied up on the other end during Amen Thompson’s transition score and were talking before Smart swung.
Both the Houston Chronicle and The Athletic reported that Smart was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected. The Athletic said Bassey stayed in the game. The Chronicle listed Smart at six points in 17 minutes; The Athletic listed six points and two rebounds in 16 minutes. The Chronicle also reported that Smart could face further discipline, but the available accounts do not say whether additional action will be taken.
What NBA rules say about a Flagrant 2
According to the NBA rulebook, a Flagrant 2 requires ejection and a minimum $2,000 fine, and the incident must be reported to the League Office. The rule’s stated consequences do not say whether a suspension will follow, so the available accounts do not establish if Smart will face further discipline. NBA rules also allow referees to use replay when they are not reasonably certain whether a foul meets the criteria for a flagrant foul, according to the NBA. That provision does not establish whether replay was used in this incident.
Smart’s recent move to Houston provides some context beyond the incident: The Boston Globe described his signing with the Rockets as a boost for the team. The contract terms included in the original draft are not supported by the supplied Globe material and are not included here.
