The NBA suspended Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart for three games without pay Thursday. The league said he threw a punch that made contact with the face of Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey.

Smart was hit with a flagrant foul 2 and ejected with 21 seconds left in the third quarter of Houston's 115-108 home win Wednesday night.

He will miss Friday's home game against the Utah Jazz, Sunday's game at Washington and Monday's game at Miami. He will lose about $125,500 in salary and can return Nov. 18 against the Indiana Pacers.

What happened

The two players were face to face and jawing after Amen Thompson scored in transition. Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg tried to step between them. Smart then threw a right hook that grazed Bassey's nose as Bassey leaned back. It happened right in front of a referee.

The two had been tangled up in the post on the possession before. Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Smart was upset that Bassey had wrapped up his elbow, which he hurt earlier in the season.

Smart confronted Bassey about it as they trailed the play. That is when he swung. Smart walked off the court on his own before the play was even reviewed.

"Fake toughness"

Bassey did not hold back after the game. He said Smart had been playing dirty all night.

"Then, he got up on me and just swung. Obviously, that was weak," Bassey said. "I just think that was, honestly, fake toughness."

First suspension since 2022

Smart, 32, is in his 13th season and his first with the Rockets. The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year has played nine games for Houston. It is the fourth suspension of his career and his first since 2022.

He is averaging 8.3 points in about 21 minutes a night.