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How Long are Basketball Games?

How Long Are Basketball Games
Basketball is one of the most popular sport around the world.

Basketball is one of the most popular sport around the world. Thousands of fans who tune in to games every year, but it is a little difficult to say the exact duration of a game, which is easier to define if we refer to its time in minutes. Do basketball fans know how long basketball games are when they sit down to watch them?

Are you curious?

Are you curious about how long basketball games are? Are you want to know what are the different things that can change the duration of a basketball game? Continue reading this article to find out how long basketball games.

Do you know?

It is need to know that Basketball has been around since 1891, with the biggest organization being the National Basketball Association (NBA) which popularized the sport. The length of a basketball game depends on which basketball governing body a particular league falls under. First, it is important to clarify that the length of an NBA game is not the same as the length of games in competitions regulated by the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The moment of a National Basketball Association (NBA) match. Image- Bleacher Report

The moment of a National Basketball Association (NBA) match. Image- Bleacher Report

How Long Are Basketball Games Normally?

Most basketball games that take place have rules made by the FIBA, also known as the International Basketball Federation. They are the governing body that decides most
Aspects of basketball games around the world, with the NBA being a part of it in the United States. FIBA has total control over all major decisions for all basketball games, including the length of time for a standard basketball game.

Basketball Games Duration

International basketball is governed by FIBA, and games are played over four 10-minute quarters, for a total of 40 minutes of playtime. There are breaks in between quarters and a halftime break after the second quarter. Teams switch baskets at halftime. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, they play overtime periods of five minutes until there is a winner.

total 40 minutes playing in two halves at Basketball. Image- Sports Brief

total 40 minutes playing in two halves at Basketball. Image- Sports Brief

How long is an NBA game?

NBA is the most popular basketball league worldwide, showcasing some of the best talents. But with so many stops and starts, fans may wonder — how long is an NBA game? An NBA game is played with four 12-minute quarters, totaling 48 minutes of game time. However, thanks to various stoppages and breaks, a typical NBA game can last up to 150 minutes.

Whenever there is a timeout, foul, or the ball goes out-of-bounds, the game clock is stopped. There is also a 15-minute halftime break. Teams also get seven timeouts (1 minute 15 seconds per timeout). Referee reviews of key plays also adds to the game time. On average, NBA games are averaging over 2 hours and 15 minutes in length.

A close game can mean both teams utilize all of their timeouts. Playoff basketball in particular has seen some all-time classic OT thrillers. So while an NBA game is technically 48 minutes of game action, many factors can quickly push the total game duration to over two hours.

The moment of a National Basketball Association (NBA) match. Image- Youtube

The moment of a National Basketball Association (NBA) match. Image- Youtube

The longest NBA game.

Just as a curious fact, the longest NBA game took place on January 6, 1951 between the Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals at the Edgerton Park Arena in Rochester, New York. The playing time was 78 minutes and the Olympians won the game 75-73, including six overtimes to be included in the Guinness World Records.

How long is Women’s Basketball Games?

Women’s basketball games have varying durations that change depending on the league you look at and where games take place. The WNBA games the FIBA have four quarters for a game, with each one last 10 minutes. But this 10-minute duration isn’t always the same for other Women’s basketball leagues.

The NCAA women’s games have two 20-minute halves instead of four quarters for a full game. It’s similar to the male NCAA basketball games with the countdown clock as well, but with different rules unique to their basketball league instead. And then there are high school women’s basketball games, which are also different too. They have four quarters for a standard game but go with an 8-minute duration instead.

Within the WNBA the time for overtime can extend the duration of a game, as can timeouts that are given to each team during an overtime period. Overtime within the WNBA is five minutes long, with two twenty-second timeouts for each team. Another 120 seconds get added before the start of the overtime period taking place as well.

The moment of a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) match. Image- Youtube

The moment of a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) match. Image- Youtube

The longest WNBA game.

The WNBA has also had longer basketball games, with one taking place in June 2002. It lasted two hours and fifty-seven minutes. The game went on for three overtime periods between the Orlando Miracle and Cleveland Rockers. The Miracle ended up winning the game, with the final score coming out to be 103–99 by the end of the game. It remains the longest basketball game to take place for a women’s league.

How long is NCAA Basketball Games?

For the NCAA basketball games, the longest game ever lasted a total of seventy-five minutes and consisted of seven overtime periods. The game took place in 1981 between Bradley University and the University of Cincinnati, with the victory going to Cincinnati by the end. It is also a game that tied for the most overtime periods within a game for the NCAA.

The moment of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) match. Image- Los Angeles Times

The moment of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) match. Image- Los Angeles Times

Are Basketball Games Always Long?

Despite all of the many things that can change the duration of a basketball game, not every game will be as long as you will think. Depending on where you go to see the game and what league it is part of, you can expect a game to last anywhere between 1 and 2 hours. The most that a basketball game timeframe can increase is from overtime periods that try to break up a tie in the score.

The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time.

The greatest players ever in NBA history: Image- The HoopsHype

The greatest players ever in NBA history: Image- The HoopsHype

The Source of Encyclopedia Britannica LeBron James is the top player of 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time. Respectively- 2. Michael Jordan, 3. Magic Johnson, 4. Wilt Chamberlain, 5. Oscar Robertson, 6. Bill Russell, 7. Larry Bird, 8. Shaquille O’Neal, 9. Tim Duncan and Number 10. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

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