# Marcus Smart’s $125K Suspension for Punching Warriors Center Comes With a Surprising Silver Lining for Rockets

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6 outlets covering · First listed: EssentiallySports, Nov 12, 2026, 8:48 PM · Read it: <https://www.essentiallysports.com/nba-active-basketball-news-marcus-smart-s-one-hundered-twenty-five-k-suspension-for-punching-golden-state-warriors-center-comes-with-a-surprising-silver-lining-for-houston-rockets/>

Losing a veteran like Marcus Smart is a significant blow for the Houston Rockets, particularly given what he brings defensively. But his three-game suspension also comes with an unexpected benefit for the franchise. With Houston operating dangerously close to the luxury tax threshold, Smart’s absence has handed the front office some much-needed financial relief. Even

## Who's covering it

In the order they published:

- Nov 11, 2026, 11:17 PM: [Takeaways from Warriors' Loss to Rockets: Silver Lining to Steph's Injury Emerges](<https://www.si.com/nba/warriors/onsi/takeaways-from-warriors-loss-to-rockets-silver-lining-to-steph-s-injury-emerges-01m771e5qxzk>) — Sports Illustrated (Sports, United States)
  LJ Cryer's performance also featured in Wednesday's takeaways
- Nov 12, 2026, 1:46 AM: [Warriors center calls out Marcus Smart’s ‘fake toughness’ after punch leads to ejection](<https://nypost.com/2026/11/12/sports/warriors-center-calls-out-marcus-smarts-fake-toughness-after-punch-leads-to-ejection/>) — NY Post (Newspaper, United States, rated Lean right)
  Marcus Smart took a swing at Golden State's Charles Bassey and got himself ejected from the Warriors’ 115-108 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday night.
- Nov 12, 2026, 4:42 PM: [Marcus Smart suspended 3 games for throwing punch at Warriors player](<https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7776121/2026/11/12/marcus-smart-suspended-punch-warriors-charles-bassey/>) — The Athletic (Sports, United States)
  The 32-year-old Houston Rockets guard was immediately ejected and walked off before officials even rendered the verdict.
- Nov 12, 2026, 5:07 PM: [Rockets' Smart suspended 3 games for punch](<https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/50465316/rockets-marcus-smart-suspended-three-games-punch>) — ESPN (Sports, United States)
  The NBA on Thursday suspended Rockets guard Marcus Smart three games without pay for throwing a punch at Warriors center Charles Bassey.
- Nov 12, 2026, 6:09 PM: [Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart suspended three games for punch against Warriors](<https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/houston-rockets-guard-marcus-smart-000926302.html>) — Yahoo Sports (Sports, United States)
  The NBA ruled Marcus Smart punched Golden State's Charles Bassey in the face. Smart's suspension starts Friday against Utah.
- Nov 12, 2026, 8:48 PM: [Marcus Smart’s $125K Suspension for Punching Warriors Center Comes With a Surprising Silver Lining for Rockets](<https://www.essentiallysports.com/nba-active-basketball-news-marcus-smart-s-one-hundered-twenty-five-k-suspension-for-punching-golden-state-warriors-center-comes-with-a-surprising-silver-lining-for-houston-rockets/>) — EssentiallySports (Sports)
  Losing a veteran like Marcus Smart is a significant blow for the Houston Rockets, particularly given what he brings defensively. But his three-game suspension also comes with an unexpected benefit for the franchise. With Houston operating dangerously close to the luxury tax threshold, Smart’s absence has handed the front office some much-needed financial relief. Even