PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 27: Josh Childress #1 of the Phoenix Suns reaches for a loose ball under pressure from Peja Stojakovic #16 of the Dallas Mavericks during the NBA game at US Airways Center on March 27, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Find out all you need to know about how long is halftime in NBA
The NBA is the epitome of professional basketball, the biggest basketball league in the world has a couple of different rules when compared to other basketball leagues and competitions. Most importantly, a quarter in the NBA is 12 minutes long rather than 10 minutes like most of the pro basketball leagues.
However, the halftime interval is like every other major sports in the world. NBA has a halftime after two quarters (or the first half) of 15 minutes. At the halftime both teams head to their changing rooms and the teams debate on strategies and try to bring necessary changes in their gameplays.
At the end of each quarter, however, the teams stay courtside unlike that of halftime where they are allowed to head to their changing rooms. The teams usually don’t utilize all 15 minutes and return to the court a few minutes earlier. This allows them to take practice shots and get warmed up for the second half (3rd quarter).
The halftimes are very important for the players and teams, not only for the teams in NBA but in any sport around the world. The NBA halftime has been put up like this for a very particular reason. This allows the team and the players to change things around. Players also get a well deserved rest after 24 minutes of fast-paced action.
If the players were asked to stay on court for full 48 minutes then could get really dangerous for the health of the players. And for that for reason, halftimes play a really vital role not only in NBA, but in any sport around the world.
The 15 minute break is also utilized by several halftime acts or performances on the court to entertain the fans. The home team also organizes several contests and t-shirt giveaways to make the wait worthwhile for the fans in attendance.
Take a look at a halftime show below:
However, the t-shirt giveaways are not limited to just halftimes, it also happens during the timeouts and quarter breaks.
Apart from a 15 minute halftime break, the teams are also allowed 7 timeouts each throughout the game. The timeouts are of 1 minute 15 seconds. The teams can utilize this to shift things around in the middle of the quarter.
While halftime gives the players enough time to rest and recover, timeouts are strategy centric. The main purpose of timeouts is to give the coaches time to make changes in the strategy, A timeout can be called by any player or the head coach of the team. However, the request is granted only when the ball is dead.
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