Tensions rose between Marcus Smart and Charles Bassey during Wednesday night's Golden State Warriors-Houston Rockets
matchup. With Steph Curry leaving early in the game with an injury, the shorthanded Warriors battled to stay within striking distance but ultimately fell 115-108. However, just before the fourth quarter, Smart was ejected after throwing a punch at Bassey, which appeared to lightly strike the Warriors' center.While Smart was given a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected, he was already in the locker room after taking a swing, seemingly knowing he was going to get tossed. While searching for clarity after the game, reporters asked Rockets coach Ime Udoka what led to the altercation.
Udoka's response was pretty incredible, pointing out that
the two got wrapped up and that Smart's elbow, which he'd hurt, got bent up, leading to the two exchanging words.
"[Bassey] said, 'What you gonna do?' and he did it," Udoka said.
😂 Ime Udoka’s explanation for why Marcus Smart threw a punch at Charles Bassey...
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelV) November 12, 2026
Udoka: “He said, ‘What you gonna do?’”
“And he did it.”
💀💀💀
Sometimes the explanation really is that simple. pic.twitter.com/9rZL3xPiC3
I guess sometimes these scuffles are as simple as they seem, at least based on what Udoka said. Obviously, Smart's reaction—walking off the floor immediately to the locker room— was telling, in terms of the veteran knowing what was coming. Regardless, it's still funny to hear a head coach lay it out this bluntly when discussing the tense moment.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Rockets HC gave hilariously blunt explanation of why Marcus Smart threw punch vs. Warriors
