How Does a Basketball Game End?

Basketball games can end in a couple of ways, when the clock runs out or if a team reaches a certain number of points they win. There are times when games go into overtime or when a game is shut down due to uncontrollable circumstances which end the game.

How does a basketball game end? A basketball game has 4 quarters that are timed equally, the game ends after the 4th quarter runs out of time and one team has more points than the other, that team is the winner. Pickup basketball games end when a team reaches a certain number of points, that team wins.

So now that you know how a basketball game ends let’s take a look at how games have ended in non-conventional ways. Some of these endings will surprise you.

 

Not All Basketball Games End After the Time Runs Out

Fiba 3×3 Basketball

FIBA 3 on 3 play has a different set of rules, this type of basketball is slowly gaining interest among young basketball players. The rules regarding play are the first team to 21 points wins or if after 10 minutes of play the team with the most points win.

If after 10 minutes nobody has reached 21 points and the game is tied it then goes into a 1 minute overtime. The game is played at a very fast pace, it is a game of speed and quick shots with the shot clock being only 12 seconds to shoot.

If you haven’t watched a game, look on Youtube for one, countries all over the world compete in the FIBA’s 3×3 International Tournaments.

The 3×3 basketball format is an excellent way to teach young basketball players skills at a much faster rate. 

 

NBA All-Star Game

The NBA All-star game recently switched to a different format than they are used to in honor of Kobe Bryant who passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020.

How does it work?

Two Captains are assigned, one from each conference (East and West) will choose their team from a selection of players that were voted in by the fans.

 After the teams are assembled they play three 12 minute quarters. At the beginning of each quarter, there are no points on the scoreboard. The winner at the end of each quarter will donate a sum of money to the charity of their choosing.

After the three quarters are done they add the points to the final quarter being the 4th with no more time left on the clock.

They now take the team with the most points and add 24 to it, in this case, Team A has 100 points and will need to reach 124 points in order to win the game before Team B does who has 90 points.

You are simply adding 24 points (In honor of Kobe Bryant’s number) to the team with the highest amount of points at the end of the three quarters.

Team A needs 24 points to win while Team B is trailing by 10 points so they would to score 34 points and reach 124 before Team A does.

Can a basketball game end in a tie?

A basketball can not end in a tie, this is because after regulation the game then goes into overtime for 5 minutes. Overtime will continue for 5 more minutes if at the end of overtime the game is still tied with no team ahead in points.

The wins and losses in a standings board in any basketball league do not have a tie column. Therefore there are no ties in basketball and the game must continue and come out with a winner.

Can a basketball game end in free throws?

There have been basketball games when the game is close in points between two teams with a few seconds left on the clock. Sometimes a player will be fouled on the final shot with no time left on the clock.

Therefore the player that was fouled is at the free-throw line with the game on the line. The player will need to make one basket in order to win the game, a made basket would break the tie with no time on the clock, the official will signal the game over.

I have had the opportunity to be a part of two games in which I was fouled on the final play with no seconds left on the clock.

In both cases, my team was down 2 points, and I was fouled on a three-point attempt. (One of the attempts was a half-court shot)

In each of those two games I made all three free throws, my biggest regret was not telling the opposing bench before my third shot, GAME OVER!

Can a basketball game end before time runs out?

I have been a part of a game as a player and coach when a basketball game has ended early. There are a couple of reasons this happened:

• The game gets out of hand and the player’s safety is at risk. The referees can no longer control the game.
• A player who gets kicked out of the game by receiving two technical fouls refuses to leave the bench area costing their team the game.
• Damage to equipment such as lights being out, basketball hoop was broken, leaks from the roof onto the court etc.
• Not enough players on the court due to already have a small number of bench players and them fouling out.
• Fights on the court and in the stands.

In any case, a basketball game can end before starting, such was the case when an NBA game was cancelled specifically because Rudy Gobert who plays for the Utah Jazz tested positive for Covid-19 in March of 2020.

The Jazz and Thunder were ready to tip-of when the officials received word that there was a positive case. The game failed to begin and the season took a 5-month hiatus.