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Scoring System in Basketball:  How Point Scoring Works

In the game of basketball the amount of points you can score are 1, 2, 3 and 4 points. Each point is awarded due to different reasons and the distance from the hoop. Here in detail how the basketball scoring system works.

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Last updated: 22.05.2021
Scoring System in Basketball | Sports Social Blog

Most of you who read our articles already know how the point scoring system works in basketball but if you’re new here and don’t fully understand how the scoring works in the game of basketball then this article is for you.

Now let me start with the absolute basics. The amount of points you can score on one play in the game of basketball are 1, 2, 3 and 4 points respectively. However each point is awarded due to different reasons and the distance from the hoop.



As you can see in the image above, 1 point is awarded from the free-throw line in the middle, 2 points are awarded if you score from anywhere inside the 3point arc and if you score from outside the 3point line, you get 3 points.

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Now you may ask, when does a player shoot free throws? Anytime a player is fouled while he is attempting a shot, he gets free throws. If the player is shooting from inside the 3point arc, he will get 2 free throws and if he is fouled outside the 3point arc, he gets to shoot 3 free throws.

After the foul is committed, there are two outcomes. If the player misses his shot, he gets the same amount of free throws he attempted his shot from; 2 free throws from mid-range and 3 free throws from behind the 3point line but in the case of the player making his shot even after getting fouled, he is awarded one free throw in such a circumstance. This play is called the ‘And-One’ play.

And-One plays are a way that players use to boast their strength and tenacity that they hold the level of poise and concentration to complete the shot, even after getting fouled. Here is a link to some of the best and-one plays in the NBA-:

 


I hope this article was helpful in understanding how scoring works in the game of basketball. If you have any doubts, please leave a comment down below and I’ll be sure to clear your query as soon as possible.


Here are the all-time leaders in type of points:


1 Point (Free Throws) – Karl Malone

2 Points (Mid-range) – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

3 Points (3point arc) – Ray Allen

4 Points (3points+and1) – Jamal Crawford

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