How to keep score in basketball | Tallynight Games

In basketball, a basket is worth 2 points, or 3 from beyond the three-point line, and a free throw is 1. The team with the most points at the end wins, and a tie goes to overtime. Pickup games can count 1s and 2s instead, and play to 11 or 21.

At a glance

Players: 5 a side, or 3 a side in 3x3
Who wins: Most points when time runs out
Baskets: 2, or 3 from beyond the arc
Pickup: First to 11 or 21, in 1s and 2s

What each basket is worth

Full-court games use the standard values. 3x3, and pickup games played in 1s and 2s, count each basket one point lower.

Shot	Full court	Half court (3x3 and pickup)
Free throw	1	1
Basket from inside the three-point line	2	1
Basket from beyond the three-point line	3	2

A shot is only worth 3 if the shooter's feet were behind the line. A foot on the line makes it 2, because the line counts as inside.

Winning and overtime

The team with the most points at the end of the last quarter wins. Quarters are 10 minutes in FIBA games and 12 in the NBA.

If it's a tie, play overtime: 5 more minutes, and as many more periods of 5 as it takes for one team to finish ahead.

Pickup games to 11 or 21

Pickup games play to a target instead of a clock. Agree on these before you start.

1s and 2s: a basket from inside the arc is 1 and from beyond it 2. First to 11, or to 21 for a longer game.
2s and 3s: count it like the full-court game, to 21.
Win by 2: play on until one team leads by 2.
Make it, take it: the team that scores keeps the ball. It changes who gets the next chance, not the points.
3x3 (FIBA rules): 1 inside the arc, 2 beyond it, 1 a free throw. The game ends when a team reaches 21 or after 10 minutes, and in overtime the first team to score 2 points wins.

Points people get wrong

And one: a player fouled while scoring keeps the basket and gets one free throw, so a basket can become 3, or 4 from beyond the arc.
Fouled on a missed shot: 2 free throws, or 3 if the shot was from beyond the arc.
Goaltending: if a defender touches the ball on its way down to the basket, the basket counts.
Your own basket: a ball you put in your own basket by accident counts 2 for the other team.

A scoring example

A half-court pickup game to 11, counted in 1s and 2s, win by 2.

Team	Baskets from inside the arc (1 each)	Baskets from beyond (2 each)	Points
Team A	6	3	6 + 6 = 12
Team B	4	3	4 + 6 = 10

At 10 all, a basket from inside the arc would only have made it 11 to 10, not enough to win by 2. Team A hit from beyond the arc for 2 and won 12 to 10.

Keep score in Tallynight

Basketball is set up for you: a running score, most points wins. Add each team as a player, then tap + for 1, 2 or 3 after every free throw, basket or three.

Tallynight keeps the score, not the game clock. For a pickup game to 11 or 21, keep an eye on the tiles and tap End game when a team gets there.

+1, +2 and +3 on every team's tile
Undo for a basket that didn't count
The score on the Lock Screen while you play
A race chart that replays the game, basket by basket

Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.

Questions

How many points is a basket in basketball?

2 from inside the three-point line and 3 from beyond it. A free throw is 1.

How do you score a pickup basketball game to 11?

Count baskets from inside the arc as 1 and from beyond it as 2. The first team to 11 wins, and some courts make you win by 2.

Is a shot on the three-point line worth 3?

No. The line counts as inside, so a shot with a foot on the line is worth 2.

What happens if a basketball game is tied?

Play 5 minutes of overtime, and keep adding 5-minute periods until one team is ahead at the end of one.

How is 3x3 basketball scored?

1 point from inside the arc, 2 from beyond it, and 1 a free throw. The first team to 21 wins, or the team ahead after 10 minutes.

What is an and-one in basketball?

A basket scored while being fouled. The basket counts and the shooter gets one free throw.

Game names belong to their owners. Tallynight isn't connected with any game publisher.