The game
Scoring and the clock
4 min
Not every basket is worth the same, and the clock shapes the whole game. These two things together explain most of what you see on the scoreboard.
How many points a basket is worth
- A shot made from inside the three-point line is worth 2 points.
- A shot made from behind the three-point line is worth 3 points.
- A free throw — an unguarded shot awarded after certain fouls — is worth 1 point.
This is why a team can come back quickly: three-pointers and trips to the free-throw line let points pile up in bursts.
The game clock
A game is split into timed segments (quarters or halves — that depends on the league, which we cover in the Leagues & Formats track). The clock counts down, and it stops on whistles, made free throws in the final minute, and timeouts.
The shot clock
On top of the game clock, the offense has a shot clock — a short timer (24 seconds in most pro leagues) by which it must attempt a shot that at least hits the rim. If it doesn't, possession goes to the other team. The shot clock is why teams can't just hold the ball to protect a lead, and it is a big reason the pace of a league matters so much for totals (over/under).