Editing NBA basketball rules

'''National Basketball Association (NBA) Rules and Regulations: A Synopsis'''

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league where two teams of five players each compete to score points by shooting a basketball through the opponent's hoop. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. The NBA follows specific rules that govern gameplay, player conduct, and scoring.

=== Game Structure ===

* '''Court''': The NBA court is a rectangular 94-by-50-foot space with a hoop at each end, 10 feet high, surrounded by a three-point arc, free-throw line, and painted area (the “key”).
* '''Game Time''': Games consist of four 12-minute quarters. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, a 5-minute overtime period is played. Additional overtimes continue until one team wins. Halftime occurs between the second and third quarters and lasts 15 minutes.
* '''Possession''': Games begin with a jump ball at center court. Teams alternate possession after each quarter. Shot clock rules require teams to attempt a shot within 24 seconds.

=== Scoring ===

* '''Field Goal (2 or 3 points)''': A basket scored within the three-point arc earns two points, while shots made beyond the arc earn three points.
* '''Free Throw (1 point)''': Awarded after certain fouls, free throws are unopposed shots taken from the free-throw line. Each successful free throw scores one point.

=== Play Mechanics ===

* '''Ball Movement''': Players move the ball by dribbling (bouncing it while moving) or passing to teammates. Players must dribble to advance; otherwise, they commit a violation known as traveling.
* '''Possession and Turnovers''': Offensive teams retain possession if they successfully shoot or if the defense deflects the ball out of bounds. Common turnovers include traveling, double-dribbling (dribbling with both hands or resuming dribbling after stopping), and stepping out of bounds.
* '''Defense''': Defensive players aim to prevent scoring by blocking shots, stealing the ball, or forcing the offense to take low-percentage shots.

=== Fouls and Violations ===

* '''Personal Fouls''': Physical contact deemed illegal, such as hitting, holding, or pushing, results in personal fouls. A player fouled in the act of shooting receives free throws. When teams reach a certain number of fouls in a quarter, the opposing team enters the “bonus” and receives free throws on subsequent fouls.
* '''Technical Fouls''': Non-contact violations like arguing with referees, unsportsmanlike conduct, or delaying the game result in technical fouls. The opposing team receives one free throw for each technical foul.
* '''Flagrant Fouls''': Excessive or dangerous contact is considered a flagrant foul. The fouled player receives free throws, and the fouling team may lose possession.
* '''Foul-Out and Disqualification''': Players who commit six personal fouls (or two technical fouls) are disqualified from the game.

=== Substitutions and Timeouts ===

* '''Substitutions''': Players can be substituted in and out freely during stoppages. However, once substituted out, a player must wait for the next stoppage to re-enter.
* '''Timeouts''': Each team has seven timeouts per game. Coaches use timeouts to stop the clock, rest players, and plan strategy.

=== Overtime and Tiebreakers ===
If the game is tied after regulation, a 5-minute overtime is played. Teams receive one additional timeout during overtime. Overtime periods continue until one team wins.

=== Points System and Playoffs ===
In the regular season, teams are ranked by win-loss records. The top eight teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs, where games are played in a best-of-seven series format until the NBA champion is determined.

The NBA game emphasizes fast-paced action, teamwork, and skill, governed by rules that promote fair play and competitive balance, allowing players and teams to showcase their best abilities.
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<span style="font-size: 10px">{{Main
|Prompt=Please provide a one-page synopsis of the rules and regulations of the National Basketball Association.
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[[Category:Basketball]]