What the competition is
A scoreboard counts the current game’s points and time. A postseason series count records how many games each side has won, so a team can lose one game without immediately leaving the competition. The NBA’s rules also distinguish regulation periods from overtime. Preseason, regular-season and postseason labels provide different competitive contexts even when the same clubs meet.
Following the competition
Keep the season, teams and game number with an entry. In a series, Game 4 is the fourth contest between the sides, not the fourth quarter of one game. North American evening starts often fall on the next Australian day, making both venue date and converted local date useful in a calendar.
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Regulation | Four twelve-minute quarters under NBA rules. |
| Overtime | Additional play after a tied regulation score. |
| Series score | Games won rather than points in one game. |
| Game number | Identifies a postseason fixture within a series. |
Questions about this guide
Does losing one playoff game necessarily end a team’s season?
No. Read the series standing and elimination condition.
Is Game 4 another name for the fourth quarter?
No. It identifies a separate game in the series.