Length of Basketball Games

Depending on the level of basketball you play, the length of the game can vary widely. Whether you're a player, a coach or the official timer at the game, understanding the rules regarding the length of the game will help you be more effective at doing your job.
High School
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, all high school basketball games must last at least 32 minutes.
- This game time is divided into four equal quarters lasting eight minutes each
- In between the first and second quarters and the third and fourth quarters, players and coaches remain on the floor during an official timeout; a halftime intermission of 10 minutes is observed between the second and third quarters.
College
College basketball uses two halves instead of four quarters of play.
- Each half lasts 20 minutes, making the total time 40 minutes for a regulation game
- There is a 15-minute halftime period
National Basketball Association
Like high school, the NBA uses quarters.
- The quarters are longer, 12 minutes each, allowing for an overall game time of 48 minutes
- Like college basketball, the halftime period lasts 15 minutes in the NBA.
Overtime
If the score is tied at the end of regulation, all levels of basketball use an overtime period.
- In high school basketball, this overtime period is four minutes
- In college basketball and the NBA, the overtime period lasts five minutes
- If the score is still tied at the end of overtime, another overtime period is used; this continues until one team wins at the end of an overtime period.
References
- "Basketball Rules Book"; National Federation of State High School Associations; 2010-11
- National Collegiate Athletic Association: Men's and Women's Basketball Rules
- National Basketball Association: Rule No. 5 - Scoring and Timing
Writer Bio
James Patterson specializes in health and wellness topics, having written and produced material for the National Institutes of Health, the President's Cancer Panel and an Inc. 500 Hall of Fame company. He is also a former sportswriter with writing experience in basketball, baseball, softball, golf and other popular sports.