Overtime

Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw where the scores are the same.

In basketball, if the score is tied at the end of regulation play, the teams play multiple five-minute overtime periods until a winner is decided. In levels below collegiate/Olympic play, an overtime period is half the length of a standard quarter, i.e., four minutes for high school varsity. 3×3 (originally FIBA 33), a formalized version of the half court three-on-three game, uses an untimed overtime (the former FIBA 33 rules called for two-minute periods).

The alternating possession rule is used to start all overtime periods under international rules for full-court basketball, while a jump ball is used under high school and NCAA rules, with the arrow reset based on the results of the jump ball to start each overtime.

The (Women’s) National Basketball Association, which use a quarter-possession rule to start periods after the opening jump, also use a jump ball. In 3×3, whose rules do not allow for a jump ball at any time in the game, the first possession in overtime is based on the result of a pregame coin toss; the winner of the toss can choose to take possession of the ball either at the start of the game or at the start of a potential overtime. The entire overtime period is played; there is no sudden-death provision.

The only exception is in 3×3, in which the game ends once either team has scored 2 points in overtime, with baskets made from behind the “three-point” arc worth 2 points and all other successful shots worth 1 point. All counts of personal fouls against players are carried over for the purpose of disqualifying players (except in 3×3, where individual foul counts are not kept, but team foul counts are). If the score remains tied after an overtime period, this procedure is repeated.

In exhibition games (non-competitive play), it is upon the discretion of the coaches and organizers if an overtime is to be played especially if it is a non-tournament game (a one-off event).

Euroleague Basketball, the organizer of the EuroLeague and EuroCup, introduced a rule for two-legged ties that eliminated overtime unless necessary to break a tie on aggregate.

A rule change in the FIBA rules permits drawn games at the end of the either leg of the two-legged tie. The definition states: “If the score is tied at the end of the first game, no extra period shall be played”.

In The Basketball Tournament, a 64-team single-elimination tournament held each summer in the U.S. with a $2 million winner-take-all prize, no overtime is played. Games employ the “Elam Ending”, named after its creator, Ball State University professor Nick Elam. Upon the first dead ball (time-out, foul, violation) with up to 4 minutes remaining in the fourth period, the game clock is turned off (though the shot clock remains active). A target score is set at the current score of the leading team (or both teams if tied) plus 8 points, and the first team to reach or surpass the target wins.

The NBA All-Star Game also uses the Elam Ending, and the 4th period has no game clock, but the shot clock is active. The target score is 24 points more than team leading or both teams tied after three periods. The winner is the first to get there. The winning shot can be a walk-off field goal, trey or free throw.