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From National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships to the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs, there are many basketball events in the winter and early spring. Heading to sports bars to cheer on their teams with fellow fans is common for many basketball enthusiasts. If you recently started following the sport, below is a brief overview of a few game rules to help you know when to hoot, holler, and hiss with the crowd. 

Watching Basketball Games at a Sports Bar? What to Know

1. Points Are Based on Court Position

The team with the most points at the end of the match wins. How many points a team earns for each basket made depends on where the player was standing when they landed the shot.

sports barA shot from behind the free-throw line is worth one point. A field goal includes various shots that aren’t considered free-throws, such as layups, slam dunks, and hook shots. A field goal wins a team two points. The crowd at a sports bar will likely cheer the loudest when a player lands a shot from behind the three-point line, as it’s worth the maximum number of points. 

2. Players Are Substituted During Games

There will be periods throughout the quarters when gameplay temporarily stops. This is often the case after the referee calls a foul, the ball is tossed out of bounds, or another violation occurs.

While the clock is stopped, each team can regroup and substitute players. Players are often switched out to rest or bring stronger members in to improve the score. There’s no set limit on how many times this can happen. If a player is substituted without the referee signing off first, the team will incur a technical foul. 

3. Personal Fouls Can Be Costly

When sprinting across the court at high speeds, players are bound to bump into each other. Unavoidable contact is not the same as a personal foul. A referee will call this type of violation when someone grabs the wrist or arm of an opposing player to steal the ball, roughly blocks another’s movements, or intentionally runs into an opponent to throw them off their game.

When these offenses happen, gameplay stops. The team penalized is forced to forfeit the ball to the opponent, where the offensive player is allowed two or three free-throws to recover.

 

If you want to watch the big game in a lively atmosphere, head to Buffalo Wild Wings. With 19 locations across New York and Connecticut, this sports bar is known for serving burgers, wings, and other hearty American food while patrons watch their favorite teams on their multiple TVs. Reach out to their Brooklyn location at (718) 235-9453 for information on any specials or explore their menu online.   

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