How Many Periods In A Basketball Game?

A basketball game consists of how many periods or sessions the league or the competition has. In general, the NBA, WNBA, and all other FIBA rules give the number four as how many periods in a basketball game, each period being 10 to 12 minutes long. In contrast, college basketball (men’s) uses two 20-minute halves. The four-quarter format is the usual way in which high school games transpire. Game strategy, player fatigue, coaches’ use of fouls, and timeouts may depend on period structure. It is important to know this format to understand the flow of the game fully.