Tempers flared between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors after an altercation between Rockets guard Marcus Smart and Warriors forward/center Charles Bassey turned the court into an octagon when Smart threw a punch at Bassey.

The punch connected with Bassey's face, leading to an immediate Flagrant-2 foul on Smart and subsequent ejection, which has been followed up with a three-game suspension for Smart, per an announcement by the NBA. Punches have been thrown during a NBA game before, but it's still a rare occurrence, one that doesn't seem to bother Bassey.

After the game, Bassey explained that the altercation between the two was a culmination of rough play all night between them. According to Bassey, Smart was "playing dirty the whole game," mentioning an instance where Smart grabbed at his knee. 

Bassey went on to explain that Smart had also put an elbow into him while going up for a rebound and grabbed at his hand during a screen and over time that jabbing between them turned into an actual jab from Smart, or more accurately, a hook.

Even though it connected with Bassey, who has seven inches and 10 pounds on smart, the Golden State big man wasn't bothered, calling it a weak punch and indicting Smart's display even further. 

"Honestly, fake toughness," Bassey said (via Luca Evans). 

Bassey couldn't even remember the last time that he'd been punched in a NBA game, if it had even happened before, but whether or not it was without precedent, Bassey still wasn't impressed with the former Defensive Player of the year's antics. 

The Rockets and the Warriors face off three more times this season, so it remains to be seen if time will cool the tempers between Smart and Bassey or if the time and distance will only allow their animosity to marinate and magnify in intensity. If Smart hadn't cooled off already, Bassey's comments are likely to stoke the fire rather than smother it.

Until then, Bassey and the Warriors will be gearing up for the rest of a long road trip with four more away games ahead of them, while Smart will be sitting through three unpaid games as part of his suspension. 

Beefs and rivalries are a common thing in the NBA and every game gives an opportunity for a new one to be born. The tension, and combat, stirring between Smart and Bassey may have jus given rise to another one. 

But if it's a lasting feud or momentary malice in the heat of a game remains to be seen.