A FIBA-sanctioned game of basketball normally consists of:

Under the rules of FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball), a basketball game consists of four quarters of 10 minutes each, making 40 minutes of playing time.

Breaks and extra time:

• There is a 2-minute break between the first and second quarters, and between the third and fourth quarters.
• The half-time break is 15 minutes.
• If the score is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, extra periods (overtime) of 5 minutes each are played until there is a winner.
• The game clock stops whenever the ball is dead, so actual games last much longer than 40 minutes.

Comparison with the NBA:

• In the NBA (National Basketball Association) of the USA, a game has four quarters of 12 minutes each (48 minutes), with 5-minute overtime periods.
• In US college basketball (NCAA), men's games are played in two halves of 20 minutes.

Other important rules:

• Each team has 5 players on the court.
• Shot clock: a team must attempt a shot within 24 seconds of gaining possession (reset to 14 seconds in some situations).
• A team must move the ball from its back court into the front court within 8 seconds.
• Three-second rule: an attacking player cannot stay in the opponent's restricted area (the "key" or "paint") for more than 3 seconds.
• A player is disqualified after 5 personal fouls under FIBA rules (6 in the NBA).
• Court: 28 m x 15 m; ring height 3.05 m.

About FIBA:

• It was founded in 1932 in Geneva, and its headquarters is in Mies, Switzerland.
• The FIBA Basketball World Cup began in 1950.
• Basketball has been an Olympic sport since 1936 (Berlin), and 3x3 basketball was added in 2020.

Why not the other options?

• ✗4 quarters of 12 minutes each is the NBA format.
• ✗2 halves of 20 minutes each is the US college (NCAA men's) format.
• ✗2 halves of 30 minutes each is used in handball, not basketball.