NBA games are typically divided into four quarters, each lasting 12 minutes.
But they often extend, making these basketball games some of the lengthiest events in the sports world.
How long is an NBA game?
Basketball games in the NBA comprise of four 12-minute quarters, totaling 48 minutes of playtime.
However, the game clock is often paused multiple times throughout that period for various reasons, including fouls, injuries, free throws, and timeouts.
There is also an additional break allotted for halftime that lasts for 15 minutes.
Additionally, teams are entitled to up to seven timeouts per game, and each period must have two mandatory timeouts.
Timeouts last three minutes and 15 seconds for national games and two minutes and 45 seconds for local games.
All things considered, an average NBA game lasts two to two and a half hours on average during the regular season and up to three hours during playoffs and finals.
It is also important to note that the length of an NBA game differs from other basketball games, such as FIBA and NCAA.
What is the longest NBA game in history?
The longest NBA game in history lasted 78 minutes with six overtimes.
It occurred in January 1951 between the Indianapolis Olympians and Rochester Royals, per the Guinness World Records.
The Olympians eventually emerged victorious, scoring 75 to 73.
How long do high school and college basketball games last?
High school and college basketball games last significantly less than an NBA game.
College basketball games last just over two hours.
There are two halves that last 20 minutes each, as well as a halftime period of 15 minutes.
High school games last approximately between an hour and 45 minutes to two hours.
In junior high school, the duration of a game is about an hour and a half.
The game is divided into four quarters that are eight minutes long.
However, in some states,games have four quarters that are ten minutes long.
The games in those states will last approximately 20 minutes longer.
In junior high school, the games are divided into four quarters that last six minutes.
In the Olympic Games, basketball is played in four periods spanning 10 minutes each.