What happens if an NBA game is tied at the end of four quarters? Overtime Rule Explained

Often, NBA games will end with one team tying the game in the final seconds of the game. In this case, if the game is tied in regulation time, it goes into overtime.

Overtime Rules

Overtime is an extended five-minute period in which two teams play overtime to determine a winner. In league play, overtime is played after regular time.

Each overtime period begins with a midcourt jump ball and the teams battle it out for the next five minutes.

Each team has two timeouts in overtime. Prior to that, each team scores three points. There is no sudden death clause throughout overtime. If the game is tied in overtime, the teams must play another overtime period.

Each team has the right to be challenged by one coach during the game. If a team does not make a challenge during regulation time, it may be made in overtime. Coach’s challenges cannot be used for shot decisions, basket interference, or even out-of-bounds violations during the last two minutes of the game.

Longest game in NBA history

The longest game in NBA history went six overtimes. The Indianapolis Olympians played the Rochester Royals and won by a final score of 75-73.

Another long NBA game was the five overtime periods between the Syracuse Nationals and the Anderson Packers. The Nationals won 125-123.

The 2019 Chicago Bulls game against the Atlanta Hawks went four overtimes. The Bulls beat the Hawks by 168 points 168-161. The game between the two teams lasted 3 hours and 35 minutes.

Bulls point guard Zach LaVine played 55 minutes and scored an impressive 47 points.