Halftime in basketball is the period between the first half and the second half of the game. It occurs after the second quarter and before the third quarter.
In regulation basketball, it represents the longest break in gameplay.
A basketball game is typically made up of quarters and halves. In the NBA, games have four quarters while college basketball is delineated by two halves.
During halftime, players and their coach usually go into the lockers to strategize the next half.
Sometimes, a halftime show is conducted on the court to help entertain the audience. It often consists of fan competitions or contests. The cheerleading squads also usually put on a show.
Example of Use:
- The Phoenix Suns retreated to the lockers during halftime following a disastrous first half that ended with them trailing the Los Angeles Lakers by over 50 points.