Alphabetical List of Sports A-ZSports Types & CategoriesAcrobatic SportsAnimal SportsClimbing SportsCollege SportsCycling SportsDance SportsExtreme SportsFantasy SportsFictional SportsFitness & ExerciseIndividual SportsMartial ArtsMotorsportsNiche SportsOutdoor SportsParalympic SportsRacquet SportsShooting SportsSporting EventsSportsSports & GamesStrength SportsSwimming SportsTeam SportsTrack & Field SportsWater SportsWinter Sports
Last updated: Jun 27, 2023
Basketball games generally have the same structure consisting of two halves. However, only certain levels further divide these halves into quarters, and each division has its own rules on how long a standard game lasts. Read on to learn about these differences in game structure across each league.
Halves
Every basketball game, regardless of level, will have two halves in the game.The two halves of a basketball game are called the first half and the second half. Every basketball game will have a short break between the two halves called halftime. NCAA men’s basketball games consist of two 20-minute halves.
Quarters
Currently, all other major leagues split each game into four quarters, with different times depending on the league. For example, the NBA splits up their games into four 12-minutes quarters.Additionally, the FIBA, WNBA, and women’s division of the NCAA split their games into 10-minute quarters.High school and youth basketball games splits their games into quarters, but theirstypically last around eight minutes.
FAQ
How is a basketball game divided?
All basketball games are divided into halves, while certain levels further divide them into quarters. The men’s division of the NCAA divides their games into two 20-minute halves. However, the NBA divides their games into 12-minute quarters, FIBA and women’s NCAA basketball divides their games into 10-minute quarters, and high school and youth leagues typically divide their games into 8-minute quarters.
