Many people don’t know the answer to this question, but it is a significant one. When two teams play against each other in basketball, and the game ends with both teams having scored the same number of points, it will be considered to have ended in a tie. There are some instances if you’re looking for when can basketball end in a tie even if there is not an equal score between both teams. For example, if one team has more points than another team when the time expires or if they are ahead by 20 or more points at any point during the second half of the game.

Can a basketball game end in a tie?

No. Basketball games do not finish in ties at any level, including high school, college, and the NBA. If the game is still tied at the end of regulation time, the game will continue in overtime for 5 minutes. If there is still a tie after 5 minutes, the game will go to overtime again until the winner is determined. This can include as many overtime hours as are required.

No game has ever ended in a tie in the NBA’s history, and it will never happen again. Fans are frequently entertained by 5 minutes of overtime; everyone enjoys a good overtime game. Some teams often win in the opening two minutes of overtime due to key players being fouled out or tiredness setting in and leaving them with nothing left in the tank. Your fouls do carry over into overtime.

How Does Overtime Work in Basketball?

If a game is tied after regulation, an extra quarter of basketball is played. Overtime begins with a tip-off in the center circle, much like a new game. The score is not reset at the start of overtime, and players’ foul counts remain the same as at the end of the regular. During regular, a player who fouled out is ineligible to participate in overtime.

Depending on the level of play, overtime is generally four or five minutes long. Overtime regulations are identical to regular rules, except timeouts and team fouls. If the score is still tied after the first overtime session, the teams will play further until one side is in the lead.

Overtime In Basketball Based on the Level of Play

Can Basketball End In A Tie?

1. College Basketball’s Overtime

At the collegiate level, overtime is likewise five minutes. Each side is given one timeout every overtime session, with any remaining timeouts from the second half being used. After regulation, team foul counts do not reset.

2. In the NBA, there is overtime

Every overtime period in the NBA is five minutes long, with each side receiving two timeouts. After each quarter, the team fouls are reset. The “bonus” begins after three team fouls.

3. In high school basketball, overtime is a common occurrence

Overtime is four minutes long in varsity games. Each team is given one 60-second timeout every overtime session, and high school regulations enable teams to carry over unused timeouts in addition to the one 60-second timeout, similar to college rules.

After the second half, team fouls do not reset. The time does not stop after a made basket, which is a significant distinction between high school and college regulations. If there is less than one minute left on the game clock in college, the clock stops after a basket.

Should there be ties in basketball?

Can Basketball End In A Tie?

Basketball games seldom go to overtime because of the number of points scored in a game and the numerous ways to score, such as three-pointers, jump shots, and free throws. When a game goes into overtime, the game is usually decided in the additional five minutes. So, in a basketball game, ties are no longer necessary.

When it comes to the NBA playoffs, how is a tie resolved in the standings?

If two teams are deadlocked in the standings, the tiebreaker will be determined by their head-to-head record. For example, if two teams played three games throughout the season, the team that wins the most games out of three will win the tiebreaker. Second, if two teams are in the same division, the team with the higher percentage wins. Third, if two teams are in the same division, the team with the higher percentage wins.

No one loves a tie in any sport, especially in boxing, where spectators pay good money to see a winner and a loser. This is why the NHL and the NFL both have tiebreakers currently. Soccer is another sport where ties occur, and playoff games conclude in penalty kicks if the game is still tied after overtime. Imagine if a shot blocker decided NBA games at the rim attempting to block a shot versus a player attempting to slam on them one on one. 

That is how I view soccer; I despise the way games are decided; in that scenario, any side may win; the talent advantage is equal when it comes to penalty kicks. Even if the NBA had a three-point shootout, most people would think this was appropriate. In soccer, championships have been decided by penalty kicks. Teams will play the entire game defensively to have a chance to win on the penalty kick. I could go on and on about this.