Golden State Warriors forward Charles Bassey accused Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart of “fake toughness” after Smart threw a punch during an altercation and was ejected, according to Sportsnet Staff’s reporting published Nov. 12.

The confrontation came in the dying seconds of the third quarter, when the players tangled under the basket while competing for a rebound. They came together and exchanged words before Smart threw a straight right. Two of Bassey’s teammates then separated the players, Sportsnet reported.

Following a review, Smart was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected for what was described as “contact to the nose with a punch.” The incident occurred in a game that also saw Stephen Curry leave with an injury and Golden State’s eight-game winning streak come to an end.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Bassey alleged that Smart’s conduct had been a problem earlier in the game, too. He pointed to an interaction in the first half while he was attempting to set a screen.

“He’s been playing dirty the whole game,” Bassey said, according to Sportsnet. “I remember in the first half, I was trying to set a screen where he grabbed my knees. So, I mean, he was playing dirty.”

Bassey said Smart then approached him during the later confrontation and swung. He called the punch “fake toughness” and, when asked whether Smart’s actions had surprised him, said he had expected a reaction.

“It didn’t surprise me, I knew he was going to do something,” Bassey said. “I baited for him to do something because I knew he was going to do something.” He also questioned Smart’s intentions, saying he thought the guard was trying to get himself out of the game rather than play.

Sources