Amanda Knapp
In basketball, if the score is tied at the end of the fourth period, the game goes into overtime (OT), where an additional period of play is contested to determine the winner. Overtime periods in the NBA are five minutes long, and there is no limit to the number of overtime periods that can be played to determine a winner. Each team is allowed two timeouts per overtime period, and common fouls are penalized by one free throw plus a penalty free-throw attempt. If the score remains tied after the first overtime, the procedure is repeated until a winner is decided.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Overtime duration | 5 minutes |
| Break between regulation and overtime | 2:30 minutes |
| Number of team timeouts per overtime period | 2 |
| Jump ball | In the center circle |
| Timing devices | Stopped during the last 2 minutes of overtime after a successful field goal attempt |
| Common fouls | First three result in the ball being awarded to the opposing team; subsequent fouls are penalized by one free throw plus a penalty free-throw attempt |
| Maximum overtime periods | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
Overtime rules in the NBA
Overtime (OT) or extra time (ET) is a tie-breaking method used in basketball games. If the scores are tied after the fourth period, there will be a 2:30 break, and then play will resume with a jump ball in the center circle. All overtime periods are five minutes long.
Each team is allowed two timeouts per overtime period. The timing devices are stopped during the last two minutes of overtime following a successful field goal attempt. The first three common fouls committed by a team in overtime will result in the ball being awarded to the opposing team on the sideline nearest to where play was interrupted. During any overtime period, common fouls charged as team fouls in excess of three will be penalized by one free throw plus a penalty free-throw attempt. If the score remains tied after an overtime period, this procedure is repeated until a winner is determined. As many as six overtime periods have been played in a single NBA game.
The NBA All-Star Game used the Elam Ending from 2020 to 2023, in which there was no game clock during the fourth period, only a shot clock. Instead, a target score was set at the leading score after three periods plus 24 points, and the first team to reach or exceed this score won the game.
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Overtime periods in 3x3 basketball
In 3x3 basketball, if the game is tied at the end of regular playing time, an overtime period is played. There is an interval of one minute before the overtime starts. The rules for scoring in overtime are different from those in regular playing time. In overtime, the first team to score 2 points wins the game. This is in contrast to regular playing time, where the game ends as soon as either team reaches 21 points, with no need for their opponents to catch up.
A 3x3 basketball game is played on a half court with a single hoop at one end. The court measures 15m by 11m and is divided by a semi-circular arc drawn at a radius of 6.75m from the centre of the hoop. The area inside the arc is the one-point zone, and the area outside is the two-point zone. Teams can earn points by scoring field goals or through free throws. A field goal from inside the arc is worth one point, and a field goal from outside the arc is worth two points.
The game is played with three players on each team, with only one substitute allowed on the bench. The ball used is the same weight as a regular basketball but is slightly smaller, facilitating better ball handling to suit the faster pace of the game. The shot clock in 3x3 basketball is also shorter than in traditional basketball, with the offensive team having only 12 seconds to attempt a shot after taking possession, compared to 24 seconds in regular basketball.
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Sudden death overtime
In basketball, if the scores are equal after the regular period of play has ended, an additional period of play, known as 'overtime' or 'extra time', is played to determine the winner. The rules of overtime vary between different competitions. Some employ "sudden death", where the first player or team to score immediately wins the game. This rule is also referred to as the "golden goal".
In the NBA, overtime is played for five minutes. Each team is allowed two timeouts per overtime period, and all personal fouls are carried over. If the score remains tied after the first overtime, the teams will play another overtime period. Up to six overtime periods have been played in a single NBA game. However, in 2022, the Las Vegas Summer League implemented a new sudden death overtime format, where the game goes into a two-minute overtime period to break the tie, and whoever scores first wins the game.
Another form of basketball that employs a sudden death overtime is 3x3, a formalized version of the half-court three-on-three game. 3x3 uses an untimed overtime period that ends once either team has scored two points. Shots taken from behind the three-point line are worth two points, and all other shots are worth one point.
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The Elam Ending
While the Elam Ending has been praised for creating a more exciting and intense experience for fans, some have criticised it for potentially creating ugly endings when teams are unable to score. There are also concerns that it could mess up historical stats and impact the importance of free throw shooting skills.
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Overtime in college basketball
Overtime in basketball is a tie-breaking method used in various sports. If the scores are equal after the regular period of play has ended, an additional period of play, known as 'overtime' or 'extra time', is played to determine the winner. The rules of overtime vary between different sports and competitions. In college basketball, overtime lasts for 5 minutes, and there is no limit to the number of 5-minute overtime sessions played – they continue until one team is leading at the end of a session.
Each overtime period in college basketball begins with a jump ball at midcourt, as at the start of the game. One team gains possession, and the other gets the possession arrow if there is another jump ball situation. Teams receive a 75-second timeout in each overtime, in addition to any unused timeouts from the main game. Fouls accumulated during the main game carry over to overtime, and players who fouled out cannot return. Teams will continue shooting on the basket they were using in the second half.
There have been some notable overtime games in college basketball. In the 1956 NCAA men's tournament, Canisius beat North Carolina State 79-78 in the East Region quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden in New York. This game went to four overtimes. In 2024, there were three OT games in the men's tournament: Northwestern beat Florida Atlantic 77-65 in the first round; Creighton beat Oregon 86-73 in double overtime in the second round; and Houston defeated Texas A&M 100-95 in overtime in the second round. In the same year, there were two OT games in the women's tournament: Kansas beat Michigan 81-72 in overtime in the first round, and Stanford defeated Iowa State 87-81 in overtime in the second round.
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Frequently asked questions
If the game is tied after the second overtime period, the teams will play another overtime period until a winner is determined.
Each overtime period is five minutes long.
Overtime periods are extensions of the second half, so there is no change of baskets. Overtime periods begin with a jump ball in the center circle. Each team is allowed two timeouts per overtime period.
There is no limit to the number of overtime periods in an NBA game. As many as six overtime periods have been played to determine a winner.
