The NBA has suspended Marcus Smart one game without pay for the Boston Celtics rookie’s actions during Friday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The league announced the punishment Saturday afternoon.
Smart was hit with a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the contest during the fourth quarter for punching Spurs center Matt Bonner in the groin. It was the point guard’s second ejection in eight games.
Smart will miss Sunday’s matchup with the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden. His absence leaves the Celtics short-handed, as fellow point guard Isaiah Thomas also is expected to be out while he continues to recover from a bruised lower back.
Thomas has missed each of Boston’s last six games since suffering his injury during a March 9 win over the Miami Heat. Evan Turner likely will run the point to start against the Pistons.
Smart said after Friday’s game — a 101-89 Spurs win — that his punch on Bonner was “a freak accident.” Celtics coach Brad Stevens called it “an unacceptable play.”
Thumbnail photo via Mark D. Smith/USA TODAY Sports Images
