Sports
Basketball: periods, overtime and market scope
Check the competition format before comparing totals or handicaps.
Original editorial illustration; not a screenshot of the game.
Start with the ruleset
Period length and some playing rules differ across competitions. Identify whether you are reading an NBA, FIBA or another competition’s rules. Raw totals from different formats are not directly comparable.
Overtime and the market
A full-game market and a regulation-only market can settle differently. Check whether overtime is included, how a handicap is applied, and what happens if the game is interrupted. Use the exact market terms.
Read statistics in context
Pace, minutes played and the opponent affect box-score statistics. A player’s average is not a promise for the next game. Distinguish confirmed lineups from projected ones when reading a preview.