Wondering how many games are in an NBA season? Each team plays 82 games in the regular season, plus more matches if they qualify for the playoffs. Get a detailed look at all that goes into each game and why they are played during an NBA season.
How Many are Regular Season Games in an NBA Season?
Every team in the NBA plays 82 regular season games spread over six months. These games are played against different teams from both their conference and the opposite conference, each having its schedule. The majority of games take place between November and April, with a few games taking place as late as May depending on the playoffs qualification.
What is the Playoff Format in the NBA?
The NBA playoffs involve the 16 best teams from each conference battling it out for the championship. All these games are played in the same format – seven-game series, with the first four, wins taking the series. The playoffs generally run from late April until mid-June and an NBA Finals series is held to determine who will be crowned champions. This championship round consists of a best-of-seven format and usually takes place in late June or early July.
How Long Does a Typical NBA Game Last?
An NBA game lasts around 2.5 hours, although the actual length of time may vary according to matchups, the complexity of plays, and how long breaks occur. Each game is broken up into four 12-minute quarters with two 15-minute halves. Plus a 5-minute halftime break and various other short breaks throughout the game. Overtime periods are also used in some games where teams are tied after regulation time has expired. Some overtime periods can last up to 10 minutes as well.
What Are some of the Rules that Govern an NBA Game?
The National Basketball Association has a set of official rules that must be followed during each game. To ensure fairness, each team is limited to five players on the court at one time and five players on their bench. The referees are also responsible for enforcing all personal fouls, out-of-bounds violations, and other infractions taking place throughout the game. Furthermore, 3 points are awarded for baskets made from outside the 3-point arc and 2 points are given for shots taken inside it. Finally, jump balls are used to determine possession when referees can’t decide which team is entitled to the ball.
How Are Steals and Blocks Captured During an NBA Game?
Steals and blocks are two vital defense statistics that are tracked for every NBA game. All taken or attempted steals by a team will be recorded in the total steals column of its box score. Blocks can also be recorded, but only after a referee signals possession change on the floor. It’s up to the referees to decide if a block was successful or not and they take into account whether any player at either end of the floor was able to touch the ball during or immediately after contact was made with it.
