The Game Clock in basketball tracks the time remaining in each quarter or period.
It is a crucial part of the game, as basketball is played within a set time limit. The clock starts when a player touches the ball on the court. It stops during timeouts, fouls, free throws, or when the ball goes out of bounds.
The Game Clock differs from the Shot Clock, which counts down a team's possession time.
In the National Basketball Association, quarters last 12 minutes, while in college, halves are 20 minutes each. High school quarters are typically 8 minutes long. The game clock ensures that the game flows smoothly and ends on time.