
Ties are rare in basketball, a sport known for its high-scoring games. While it is uncommon, there have been instances of tied scores in basketball, such as the game between Kansas and Kansas Wesleyan in 1918, which ended 76-76, and another between Planeview High School and Augusta High School in 1949, which ended 28-28. In the case of a tie, the rules of the game dictate that additional overtime periods are played until one team has a higher score, ensuring a winner is determined.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are ties possible in basketball? | Yes, but they are rare. |
| Why are ties rare? | Basketball is a high-scoring game. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the rules provide that as many extra periods as necessary will be played until one side has a higher score. |
| Has an NBA game ever ended in a tie? | No, but it is possible in some other competitions. |
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What You'll Learn

Ties are rare in basketball
In basketball, a tie occurs when the game ends with both teams having scored the same number of points. While ties are possible in some sports, they are rare in basketball due to the high-scoring nature of the game. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the rules state that as many extra periods will be played as necessary until one team has a higher score.
There have been a few instances of ties in basketball history, although they are uncommon. For example, on February 4, 1949, Kansas' Planeview High School played Augusta High, and the game ended in a 28-28 tie. In another instance, on February 9, 1918, a game between Kansas and Kansas Wesleyan ended in a tie, although there was some controversy as a referee waved off a made free throw, but the scorekeeper counted the shot.
In modern basketball, particularly in leagues like the NBA, ties are extremely rare, if not impossible. If a game goes into overtime and remains tied after the first overtime, another overtime period will be played until there is a winner. This is to ensure that a winner is determined, as the rules do not accommodate for a tie outcome.
While not common, there have been instances where external factors have influenced the outcome of a game, resulting in a rare occurrence of a tie. For example, a Division II game between Winston-Salem State and Johnson C. Smith ended in a 76-76 tie after a player broke a light fixture above the court with a last-second shot, creating a safety hazard that prevented the game from continuing.
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Overtime periods are played until there's a winner
While ties are rare in basketball, they have occurred on a few occasions. In the NBA, it is not possible for a game to end in a tie. If the scores are level at the end of regulation, the game goes to overtime, and multiple overtime periods are played until there is a winner.
This is not the case in all basketball leagues, however. In some old European competitions, such as the Korać Cup, ties were possible as some rounds were decided on aggregate scores.
In modern basketball, the rules provide that as many extra periods as necessary will be played until one side has a higher score. This is similar to the concept of 'sudden death' in other sports, where play continues until one team achieves a specified goal, thus breaking the tie.
There have been a few notable instances of tied basketball games. On February 4th, 1949, Kansas' Planeview High School played to a 28-28 tie with Augusta High. More recently, a Division II game between Winston-Salem State and Johnson C. Smith ended in a 76-76 tie after a light fixture was damaged, and officials did not want to risk injury by continuing play.
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Ties have occurred in some old European competitions
Ties in basketball are rare, but they have occurred in some old European competitions. For instance, in the Korać Cup, some rounds were home and away games decided on aggregate scores. The Balkan International Basketball League, which began in 2008, the European North Basketball League, which started in 2021, and the VTB United League, which is mainly made up of Russian clubs, are some of the other European competitions that have taken place.
In the NBA, ties are not possible. If the score is tied at the end of regulation play, the teams play multiple overtime periods until a winner is decided. In the 2009–10 season, Euroleague Basketball introduced a new rule for two-legged ties that eliminated overtime unless necessary to break a tie on aggregate. This rule was extended to all two-legged ties in its competitions, including the EuroLeague, in 2010–11.
Ties have also occurred in some domestic basketball games. For example, on February 4, 1949, Kansas' Planeview High School played to a 28-28 tie with Augusta High. On February 9, 1918, Kansas and Kansas Wesleyan tied. Wesleyan came from behind and won by one point, but earlier in the game, a referee waved off a made free throw because a Wesleyan player was over the line.
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Ties have occurred in high school basketball
Ties are uncommon in basketball due to the sport's high-scoring nature. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the rules mandate that extra periods be played until one team pulls ahead. However, this does not mean that ties are impossible in basketball.
In the NBA, games that end in a tie are virtually unheard of. While games may be called off early due to unforeseen circumstances, a winner is always declared. The closest instance of a tied game in the NBA occurred during the COVID-19 shutdown when a game between the Jazz and the Thunder was called off just before tip-off after Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.
However, ties have occurred in high school basketball, albeit rarely. On February 4, 1949, Kansas' Planeview High School and Augusta High School played to a 28-28 tie. Another instance of a tie occurred on February 9, 1918, when Kansas and Kansas Wesleyan drew. A referee waved off a made free throw by Kansas Wesleyan because a player was over the line, but the scorekeeper counted the shot, resulting in a tie. More recently, a Division II game between Winston-Salem State and Johnson C. Smith ended in a 76-76 tie after a light fixture was damaged, prompting officials to call off the game due to safety concerns.
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Ties are possible in some sports but not others
Ties, or draws, are possible in some sports but not in others. In sports where a winner must be decided, several methods can be used to break a tie, such as playing extra time, employing a sudden death rule, or having a penalty shootout.
Ties are rare in basketball due to its high-scoring nature and the rules that govern the game. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, overtime periods are played until one team has a higher score. However, there have been a few instances of tied basketball games, such as a Division II game between Winston-Salem State and Johnson C. Smith that ended 76-76, and a 1949 game between Kansas' Planeview High School and Augusta High that ended 28-28.
In other sports, like cricket, a tie is one of two possible outcomes, the other being a draw, which occurs when the allotted playing time expires without the completion of the game. In boxing, a draw is declared when judges award an equal number of points to both boxers, or when two of three judges score a draw and the third does not.
In the NFL, if a team scores a field goal during overtime, the other team has the opportunity to tie the game and continue to overtime, or score a touchdown to win the game.
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Frequently asked questions
Ties are possible in basketball, but they are rare due to the high-scoring nature of the game. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, extra periods are played until one side has a higher score.
No, there has never been a tie in the NBA. In the NBA, if the game is tied after regulation, the teams will play overtime periods until there is a winner.
Yes, there have been a handful of ties in other basketball leagues. For example, on February 4, 1949, Kansas' Planeview High School played to a 28-28 tie with Augusta High. More recently, a Division II game between Winston-Salem State and Johnson C. Smith ended in a 76-76 tie after a light fixture was broken above the court, and officials did not want to risk injury.
Ties are rare in basketball because the rules provide that extra periods are played until there is a winner. Therefore, even if the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game will continue until one team pulls ahead.
There are a few ways to break a tie in basketball. One way is to play overtime periods until one team has a higher score. Another way is to use a tiebreaker, such as a coin toss or aggregate point difference.











































