Section 6: Scoring
Field Goals
- Two-point field goal (2 points): A basket made from inside the three-point arc (within 23 feet 9 inches of the basket, or 22 feet in the corners). This includes layups, dunks, hook shots, floaters, and mid-range jump shots.
- Three-point field goal (3 points): A basket made from beyond the three-point arc. The shooter's feet must be completely behind (not touching) the three-point line at the time of the shot. If any part of the shooter's foot is on the line, the basket counts as two points.
Free Throws
- Free throw (1 point each): Uncontested shots taken from the free throw line (15 feet from the backboard), awarded after certain fouls
- The shooter must release the ball within 10 seconds of receiving it from the official
- Other players line up in designated lane spaces during free throw attempts: two offensive players occupy the first spaces closest to the baseline, and three defensive players occupy the second and third spaces on each side
- Players may not enter the lane or cross the free throw line extended until the ball touches the rim
- If the free throw attempt is the last of a set and is successful, the opposing team inbounds from behind the baseline
- If the free throw attempt is the last of a set and is missed, the ball is live and may be rebounded by either team
Free Throw Situations
- Shooting foul (non-three-point): The fouled player receives 2 free throws
- Shooting foul (three-point attempt): The fouled player receives 3 free throws
- Shooting foul with made basket (and-one): The basket counts, and the fouled player receives 1 additional free throw
- Non-shooting foul (team in penalty): The fouled player receives 2 free throws when the opposing team has committed 5 or more fouls in the current quarter (team is "in the bonus")
- Technical foul: 1 free throw awarded, followed by possession for the offended team at the sideline
- Flagrant foul 1: 2 free throws plus possession for the offended team
- Flagrant foul 2: 2 free throws plus possession for the offended team; the offending player is ejected
Determining the Scorer
The player who last controls the ball on a successful shot attempt is credited with the field goal or free throw. If a player tips in a teammate's missed shot, the tipping player is credited with the basket. Own goals (accidentally scoring in the opponent's basket) are credited to the nearest opposing player.
Standings and Tiebreakers
NBA teams are ranked by win-loss percentage. In the event of a tie, the following tiebreakers are applied in order: head-to-head record, division record (if applicable), conference record, record against playoff teams in the same conference, record against playoff teams in the opposing conference, net point differential, and finally a coin flip.
Playoff Format
The NBA Playoffs feature 16 teams (8 per conference). The top 6 seeds in each conference qualify directly. Teams seeded 7th through 10th compete in the Play-In Tournament: 7 vs. 8 (winner earns 7th seed), 9 vs. 10 (loser eliminated), and the loser of 7-vs-8 plays the winner of 9-vs-10 for the 8th seed. Playoff series are best-of-seven in every round, culminating in the NBA Finals.