Forty minutes or forty-eight?
| Competition rules | Quarters | Regulation | Overtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIBA 5-on-5 | 4 × 10 min | 40 min | 5 min |
| NBA | 4 × 12 min | 48 min | 5 min |
Both use a 15-minute halftime. FIBA intervals between quarters and before overtime are two minutes.
The broadcast lasts longer than the game clock.
The clock can stop while the broadcast continues. Free throws, time-outs, reviews and breaks add elapsed time; overtime adds more playing time. A 40-minute regulation game therefore does not promise a 40-minute viewing session.
Plan around the competition.
Read the competition name before interpreting the clock. Youth events and local tournaments can use their own regulations. A school or barangay event advertised as basketball is not automatically using NBA timing.