Marcus Smart's ejection for throwing a punch could lead to further sanction from NBA office

HOUSTON (AP) — Marcus Smart of the Houston Rockets could be facing a fine or suspension for throwing a punch at Charles Bassey of the Golden State Warriors, pending the results of an NBA investigation into the circumstances around the incident.Smart was ejected with 21 seconds left in the third quarter of the Rockets-Warriors game on Wednesday night after his punch at Bassey was declared a Flagrant 2 foul — “contact to the nose,” referee crew chief Mitchell Ervin said after the play was reviewed.The Flagrant 2 comes with an automatic ejection, which is then reviewed by the league office. The Rockets next play on Friday, and it's almost certain that the league will hand down further penalty by then if it deems one is warranted.Bassey told reporters in Houston after Wednesday's game that he felt Smart had been “playing dirty” throughout the contest.“It didn’t surprise me. I knew he was going to do something,” Bassey said. “I don’t think he was trying to play. I think he was trying to get