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Some people play professional basketball, and some play in their free time. How long is a basketball game? How much time is required for playing basketball? As we all know, basketball has four quarters, so how much time is fixed for each quarter?
How long is a break provided between each quarter? What is the duration of the break that is provided in the half of the game? Is there any overtime? If yes, then what is the duration of overtime?
How many timeouts are there in a basketball game? How long is a timeout? What is the purpose of a shot clock?
Contents
How long is a Basketball Game?
A basketball game completes in approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. There is a division of time for breaks, timeouts, overtime, fouls, and different events. Let us discuss them.
Start of Game
First of all, both teams sing their national anthem, and then there is a toss between two groups, and the team that wins the toss throws the basketball, and the game starts. Read Also Brief Basketball History Complete.
Quarters of Basketball
The basketball has four quarters, and the time of each quarter is 12 minutes. There is a break of 1:30 seconds between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth quarters.
However, the break time between the two halves of the game is 15 minutes. At this time, players take a rest. They can also do discussions with their coaches and can talk about their strategies.
Timeouts
These are also mini rest periods in which players can again do discussion, and any team can substitute the players. The head coach and players inside the court can take the timeout when the ball is dead. Otherwise, which team possesses the basketball can take a timeout.
The time of each timeout is 20 seconds, and there is only one timeout per quarter. Any team can take only three timeouts in the fourth quarter, and in the last two minutes of the previous quarter, they can take only two timeouts.
Overtime
When there is a tie between two teams, there is an overtime of 5 minutes in the NBA. Then every team has the chance to end the tie and win the match. There can be more than one overtime in a game.
When does the Clock Start?
The Clock starts simultaneously as the ball is on the ground in play. It runs until the end of last quarter.
When Does the Clock Stop?
The Clock stops when a foul happens, or the ball moves out of the bounds and starts again when the ball is inbound, and the player touches it. In the NBA, the Clock also stops when a shot is made in the last two minutes of the game.
Shot Clock
It is a countdown clock and helps a lot to speed up the game and avoid holding up basketball by one team. It is of 24 seconds by the NBA. It starts countdown when the player is holding and dribbling the ball.
- The player has to score a goal in that period of time.
- As soon as, the defender gets the ball new countdown starts.
- If a team fails to score a goal in the given time, the defender team gets the ball.
Resetting of the Shot Clock to 24 Second
Resetting occurs when the following events happen
- Any new player gets the ball and dribbles.
- The ball goes out of the backcourt.
- As a result of a failure in dribbling or in the attempt to score a goal, the ball does not have possession of any player.
- When a foul takes place.
No Resetting of the Shot Clock
No resetting of the shot clock occurs when the following things happen.
- When basketball doesn’t touch the rim.
- Similarly, the ball touches the defender’s hand before going out of bounds.
- When any technical foul may happen, for example, when any player is absent.
End of Game
The team who makes more goals wins the match, and they celebrate their victory very much. Then, there is the award distribution ceremony among the members of both teams, and the game ends
Summary
The period for basketball is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. All things take time, like singing the national anthem, toss, and warm-up session of players. Furthermore, the game also has four quarters of 12 minutes with a break of 90 seconds in the first and second and in third and fourth quarters, and there is a 15 minutes break between the second and third quarters. There is also one timeout per quarter for the rest of the players of 10 seconds. There is also a shot clock to speed up the game. In the end, the team that makes more goals wins the match and celebrates, and the match ends.
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