Points in basketball

Points are the score. A made field goal from inside the three-point line is worth two points, a made field goal from beyond the line is worth three, and each made free throw is worth one. A player's points total is the sum of those.

The formula

Points = (2 × two-point field goals made) + (3 × three-point field goals made) + free throws made

A player who makes four twos, two threes and three free throws scores 2 × 4 + 3 × 2 + 3 = 17 points.

What counts

• A made two-point or three-point field goal, including tip-ins and putbacks.
• A made free throw.
• A goaltending call against the defense. The FIBA manual credits the shooter with a made field goal even though the ball never went in.

What does not count

• A basket waved off by the officials, for example after an offensive foul before the shot.
• A shot released after the buzzer. Follow the officials' final ruling.

Judgment calls

Two or three? The shooter's feet decide. A foot on the three-point line makes it a two. If you are unsure, watch the official's signal or the scoreboard.

Own baskets. When a defender accidentally scores in their own basket, the points still count. Rule sets record this differently. The FIBA manual credits the basket to the on-court captain of the team that gets the points.

Unclear calls. "He scored 4" does not say how. It could be two twos, or a three and a free throw. A good statkeeper finds out before recording, because the split changes shooting stats.

How a statkeeper records it

Paper scorebooks track points by marking each made basket and free throw against the player, then adding the running score. Record the shot type (two, three or free throw), not only the points. That is what makes field goal percentage, three-point percentage and free throw percentage possible later.

Say it to HoopReads

HoopReads records made and missed shots, then adds up the points for you.

“Carter layup”

“Isaiah layup and one”

A bare total like "Carter scored 4" does not become points right away. HoopReads holds it as an unresolved entry and asks you to pick the split (2 + 2 or 3 + 1). It stays out of the box score until you pick one. "Scored 2" can only be one made two, so HoopReads records it as one:

“James scored 2”

Related stats

Points come from shots, so read them next to field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Back to the basketball stats guide.