How Long Do NBA Games Usually Last?
Contents
How long is an NBA game? The average NBA game lasts around two and a half hours.
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The Length of an NBA Game
The average NBA game lasts around two and a half hours, but there can be variations in the length of the game depending on a number of factors. These factors can include the number of time-outs taken, the amount of scoring, and the pace of play. Let’s take a more detailed look at the length of an NBA game.
The four 12-minute quarters
An NBA game is 48 minutes long, divided into four 12-minute quarters. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, there will be a five-minute overtime period. If the score is still tied at the end of overtime, the game will end in a tie.
Each team has two 60-second timeouts per half, and one 20-second timeout per quarter. There is also a mandatory television timeout at the first dead ball under eight minutes remaining in each quarter. In addition, each team is allowed one “advance” timeout that they can use at any point in the second half.
The interior players are not allowed to cross the halfcourt line before the ball crosses halfway, and the dribbler is not allowed to cross over halfway until he has handed off or passed the ball. After a made basket, play starts at center court.
Halftime
The halftime break in an NBA game is 15 minutes long.
Overtime
While the length of an NBA game is supposed to be 48 minutes, the reality is that most games go into overtime. In fact, according to Inpredictable, “the average duration of an NBA game is about 2 hours and 20 minutes.”
The reason for this is because there are so many stoppages in play. There are timeouts, fouls, out-of-bounds calls, free throws, and more. As a result, it often takes longer than 48 minutes to play a full game.
Interestingly enough, Inpredictable also notes that “NBA games have been getting shorter over the past few years. In 2014-15, the average game time was 2 hours and 33 minutes. In 2017-18, that number had dropped to 2 hours and 21 minutes.”
So, while NBA games may not always last 48 minutes, they are getting shorter. And that’s good news for fans who don’t want to spend all night at the arena!
Variables That Can Affect the Length of an NBA Game
The length of an NBA game can vary depending on a number of factors. These factors can include the number of time-outs, the number of fouls, the pace of play, and the style of play. Let’s take a closer look at each of these variables.
Injuries
Injuries are one of the most common variables that can affect the length of an NBA game. If a player is injured, they will have to leave the game and be replaced by another player. This can often lead to a longer game, as players are given time to rest and recover from injuries. In some cases, an injury can also lead to a shorter game, as players may be less willing to play through pain or fatigue.
Free throws
One of the primary variables that can affect the length of an NBA game is the number of free throws attempted. More free throws means more time taken to shoot them, and thus a longer game. In the 2015-16 season, the average number of free throws attempted per game was 20.8. The season before that, it was 20.2. That may not seem like a big difference, but it can add up over the course of an entire game.
Other variables that can affect the length of an NBA game are things like the number of timeouts used, whether there are any injured players who need to be tended to, and how long halftime is. All of these things can add up to a longer or shorter game.
Timeouts
One thing that can have a big impact on the length of an NBA game is the number of timeouts each team takes. In the past, teams were allowed to call a maximum of six timeouts per game, but that number was reduced to five in 2001. In 2008, it was further reduced to four. And now, in 2017, teams are only allowed to call three timeouts per game. So, while the average NBA game has indeed gotten longer over the years, it’s worth noting that this is at least partially due to teams taking more timeouts.
Another factor that can affect the length of an NBA game is the number of fouls called. Obviously, if there are more fouls being called, it’s going to take longer to play the game. However, it’s worth noting that the average number of fouls called per game has actually decreased slightly over the years. In 2010-11, for example, there were 24.2 fouls called per game; by 2016-17, that number had dipped to 23.8. So while more timeouts are being called (and thus games are taking longer), there are fewer stoppages due to fouls being called.
Conclusion
The average length of an NBA game is just over 2 hours, or 2 hours and 12 minutes to be exact. That said, there are a number of factors that can influence the length of an NBA game. These include the amount of timeouts each team takes, the pace of play, and the number of free throws attempted.
