ESPN.com · Nov 23, 2019
Celtics' Marcus Smart says players will start protecting themselves in altercations with fans
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart says NBA players are "gonna end up protecting ourselves eventually" in altercations with fans after he got tangled up with a spectator during Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets.
In the fourth quarter, Smart fell into the front row of fans at the Pepsi Center while chasing a loose ball. When he got up, he exchanged words with a fan nearby.
"My foot got stuck in a chair, and the fan told me, 'That's right, stay on the ground, get on your knees,'" Smart said after the Celtics' 96-92 loss. "Excuse me? You know what I'm saying. I just told him, 'Listen, just watch the game.'"