After injuries played a role in their playoff demise last season, the Rockets have come out of the gate strong this season with their key pieces all on the floor.
One of their offseason additions is set to be sidelined for multiple games, however, and it isn’t injury-related.
Marcus Smart was suspended by the NBA on Thursday, a day after he was ejected for punching Warriors center Charles Bassey in a win.
Here’s what you need to know about Smart’s punishment.
MORE: What we know about Stephen Curry’s injury
NBA suspends Marcus Smart for punch
The NBA announced a three-game suspension for Smart, starting with Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Jazz. Smart will lose more than $125,000 in game checks, according to Bobby Marks.
The NBA has suspended Marcus Smart three games for punching Charles Bassey last night. https://t.co/e2vsSPm2Nm
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) November 12, 2026
Smart quickly left the floor after punching Bassey late in the third quarter on Wednesday night. After the game, Rockets coach Ime Udoka offered some more details about what happened.
“[Bassey] said, ‘What you gonna do?’ And [Smart] did it,” Udoka said.
Smart, who is averaging 8.3 points per game to start his Rockets tenure, is in line to miss games against the Jazz, Wizards and Heat before returning against the Pacers on Tuesday.
Before his NBA career, Smart faced a suspension of the same length at Oklahoma State for shoving a Texas Tech fan.
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