# Law 21: Game Lost by Default (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 21: Game Lost by Default · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-21-game-lost-by-default/)

When a team is down to fewer than 2 players, the score that follows, the classification point and defaults in aggregate series.

## 21.211 Losing by Default

Fewer than 2 players ready, the classification point, and aggregate series.

### Test 1: When a game is lost by default

- A team loses by default if, during the game, it has fewer than 2 players on the court ready to play. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.1)
- Two is enough; it is one that ends the game. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.1)
- Default is about the team being reduced during the game; forfeit is about the start, refusing to play or preventing the game. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 20.1, 21.1)
- The defaulting team receives 1 classification point. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.1)
- A team that defaults in the first or second game of a two-game total points series loses the series. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.2)
- Players are lost to 5 fouls, disqualification or injury, and there may be no substitutes left. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.1)
- Nothing in the rule limits it to a quarter or a minute. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.1)
- A team can play on with 2; one fewer and the game is lost by default. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.1)
- 0 for a forfeit, 1 for a default, 2 for a win. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 20.2.1, 21.2.1, Appendix D)
- One player ready is not enough to go on. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.1)

## 21.212 The Score After a Default

When the score stands and when it becomes 2-0.

### Test 1: The final score

- If the team awarded the game is ahead, the score stands as it was when the game was stopped. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.1)
- Team A is not ahead, so the score is set at 2-0 in its favour. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.1)
- The game is awarded to the opponents of the team that defaulted. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2)
- That way the awarded team never ends up with fewer points than its opponent. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.1)
- The score stands as at the time when the game was stopped. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.1)
- Any lead counts: Team A is ahead, so the score stands. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.1)
- The game is awarded to Team A, so it is Team A's win whatever the score. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2, Appendix D)
- With Team A ahead, the score at the stoppage stands. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.1)
- Team A was not ahead, so the score is set at 2-0. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.1)
- Team A trailed 41-45, so instead of that score it is given 2-0. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 21.2.1)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 21 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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