Image Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

How long is overtime in NBA? How many overtimes in NBA?

An NBA game consists of four 12-minute quarters, and a five-minute overtime period can be added if there's a tie at the end of the fourth quarter.

Image Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

NBA is a more result-oriented game but still, there are plenty of chances that both teams get tied at the end of the 48 minutes. We usually see the buzzer-beaters and the go-ahead basket in the clutch time to decide the winner. Sometimes, a basket ties the game and it forces the overtime.

If the match goes into overtime, we naturally find a result from the game. On Apr 01, 2025, the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves couldn’t produce a result from overtime and we moved to the second overtime. The Timberwolves held the nerves and weathered Nikola Jokic’s career-high performance with a win in double OT.

🚨 INSTANT CLASSIC IN DENVER TONIGHT 🚨

Superstars hitting big shots.
Two overtimes.
8 lead changes in 2OT alone.
A wild final sequence.

Timberwolves win 140-139! pic.twitter.com/4lyhUf1z3g
— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2025

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Let’s understand how long is overtime in NBA and what’s the actual rule behind overtimes in the league.

How long is overtime in NBA?

If the score is tied at the end of the fourth period, the play starts in two and a half minutes without a change of baskets. All overtime periods are considered extensions of the second half.

An NBA game consists of four 12-minute quarters, and a five-minute overtime period can be added if there’s a tie at the end of the fourth quarter. As per the NBA, both teams will still play five-on-five in the shortened period until the buzzer. Another five-minute overtime will begin if the score is tied again.

How many overtimes in NBA?

There is no limitation on overtime in the NBA. As we mentioned earlier, the process will continue until one team has a lead at the end of the extra period. The current record for most overtime periods in a single game is six. It was the longest game in NBA history which was played between the Indianapolis Olympians and Rochester Royals in 1951.

Overtime starts with a jump ball in the center circle and the timing device gets stopped during the last two minutes of overtime following a successful field goal attempt, according to NBA.com. There are two team timeouts for each team in the overtime period.

Image Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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Overtime in NBA

Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.