The typical duration of a National Basketball Association contest is a frequently discussed metric. It encompasses not only the time the clock is running, but also periods when play is halted due to timeouts, fouls, and intermissions between quarters. For instance, a game officially consists of four 12-minute quarters, but the actual elapsed time is significantly longer due to these stoppages.
Understanding the temporal aspect of these athletic events is relevant for several reasons. Broadcasters use this data for scheduling purposes and advertising revenue projections. Fans may find this information useful when planning attendance or viewing habits. Historically, rule changes have been implemented to either quicken or extend this period to optimize the viewing experience and game flow.