Warriors' Charles Bassey Rips Marcus Smart's 'Fake Toughness' After Getting Punched on Video

Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey commented Wednesday night after Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart got ejected for throwing a punch at him during Houston's 115-108 home win.

Speaking to reporters following the game, Bassey called out Smart's "fake toughness," before adding, "I don't think he was trying to play. I think he was trying to get himself out of the game."

Late in the third quarter, Smart and Bassey exchanged words, prompting Smart to throw a punch toward Bassey's face:

Smart was assessed a flagrant foul 2, resulting in his immediate ejection from the game.

Bassey noted that he expected Smart to do something because Smart had been "playing dirty the whole game."

Houston ended Golden State's eight-game winning streak with the victory, dropping the Warriors to 8-4 on the season, while the Rockets improved to 9-3.

Prior to his ejection, Smart recorded six points, two rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes off the bench.

Meanwhile, Bassey played 13 minutes off the bench, finishing with seven points, six rebounds and one block.

Warriors-Rockets Highlights

01:30

The Rockets led by eight points at the time of Smart's ejection, but it did little to swing the momentum in Golden State's favor.

Undoubtedly the biggest concern coming out of the game for Golden State was the health of superstar guard Stephen Curry, who left in the fourth quarter and was diagnosed Thursday with an oblique abdominal tear that will keep him out for at least two weeks.

As for the budding rivalry between the Warriors and Rockets, it won't be renewed until Dec. 30 when Golden State hosts Houston.