How Long Is Overtime in Basketball? Explained

By Emma Wilson · September 12, 2026

In basketball, overtime periods last 5 minutes in most professional and collegiate leagues, including the NBA, WNBA, and NCAA. If the score remains tied after one overtime, additional 5-minute periods continue until a winner is determined.

Understanding Overtime in Basketball

Overtime in basketball is an extension of game time used to break a tie at the end of regulation play. It ensures that a winner is decided in single-elimination games or when standings require a clear result. The structure and duration of overtime vary slightly depending on the league and level of competition.

How Overtime Works Across Different Leagues

NBA: 5-minute overtime periods, with no limit on the number of overtimes.
WNBA: Same as NBA—5-minute overtime periods.

NCAA Men's Basketball:

NCAA Women's Basketball: 5-minute overtime periods, introduced in 2021–2022 (previously used 4-minute quarters).
FIBA: 5-minute overtime periods, consistent with NBA rules.
High School (NFHS): 4-minute overtime periods, with multiple overtimes allowed if needed.

Overtime Rules and Key Mechanics

Overtime follows specific procedural rules to maintain fairness and continuity. After a regulation tie, teams switch baskets for overtime (to account for court advantages), and the game resumes with a jump ball or possession arrow, depending on the league.

Key Overtime Rules

Each overtime period is standalone—fouls reset partially, but team foul counts carry over in some leagues.
In the NBA, team fouls reset after each quarter but not between overtimes; players foul out after six personal fouls.
There is no time limit on how many overtime periods can be played—games continue until a winner emerges.
Timeouts remaining from regulation carry into overtime, with additional timeouts sometimes granted.

League	Overtime Duration	Max Overtime Periods	Foul Reset?	Last Game with Multiple OTs
NBA	5 minutes	Unlimited	No (accumulated)	March 2023 (OKC vs GSW – 2 OT)
WNBA	5 minutes	Unlimited	No	August 2022 (NYL vs ATL – 1 OT)
NCAA Men's	5 minutes	Unlimited	No	March 2023 Tournament (Creighton vs Oregon – 3 OT)
NCAA Women's	5 minutes	Unlimited	No	April 2023 Final Four (Stanford vs USC – 1 OT)
FIBA	5 minutes	Unlimited	No	September 2023 World Cup (Germany vs USA – 1 OT)
NFHS (High School)	4 minutes	Unlimited	No	February 2023 (TX HS Game – 4 OT)

Table data source:1, 2, 3

The data shows consistency across major leagues: 5-minute overtime periods dominate professional and college basketball. The primary outlier is high school basketball, which uses 4-minute periods. All leagues allow unlimited overtime, emphasizing the importance of determining a winner. Foul accumulation remains continuous, increasing strategic pressure in extended games.

Historic and Notable Overtime Games

Some of the longest games in basketball history have gone into multiple overtimes. The longest NBA game occurred in 1951, when the Rochester Royals played the Indianapolis Olympians in a 6-overtime thriller that ended 75–73. NCAA games have also seen extreme lengths, such as the 1981 game between Cincinnati and Bradley, which went 7 overtimes.

Why Multiple Overtimes Are Rare

Physical exhaustion limits player performance beyond 2–3 overtimes.
Broadcasting schedules discourage excessively long games.
Most tied games are resolved within the first overtime due to heightened intensity.

Common Questions About Basketball Overtime

How long is one overtime period in the NBA?

An NBA overtime period lasts 5 minutes. If the game remains tied after one overtime, additional 5-minute periods are played until a winner is determined.

Can a basketball game end in a tie?

No, basketball games cannot end in a tie during the regular season or playoffs. Overtime periods continue until one team has a higher score at the end of a full overtime period.

How many overtimes can a basketball game have?

There is no limit to the number of overtimes in basketball. Games continue with 5-minute periods until a winner is decided. However, games with more than two overtimes are rare.

Do teams switch baskets during overtime?

Yes, teams switch baskets at the start of overtime to ensure fairness, especially if one end of the court has environmental advantages like lighting or wind (in outdoor settings).

What happens to fouls in overtime?

In the NBA and most leagues, team and personal fouls accumulated during regulation carry over into overtime. Players still foul out after reaching the limit (e.g., 6 in the NBA, 5 in NCAA).