NBA Suspends Marcus Smart Three Games For Punching Charles Bassey

The NBA has suspended Rockets guard Marcus Smart for three games without pay “for throwing a punch that made contact with the face” of Warriors big man Charles Bassey, the league announced (via Twitter).

The incident occurred with 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game between the two teams in Houston (Twitter video link via NBC Sports Bay Area). Smart and Bassey were jawing back and forth and then Smart threw a right jab that evidently grazed Bassey’s nose. Bassey was not injured and appeared unfazed by the altercation.

The two players were quickly separated and Smart walked off the court on his own before the play was even reviewed in anticipation of being ejected,…