Basketball · Official Basketball Rules

Law 55: Appendix D: Classification of Teams

2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

Classification points, tie-breaking criteria, forfeits, comparing teams across groups and phases, and home-and-away aggregate series.

55.551Points and Tie-breaks

Classification points and the order of the criteria.

Teams get 2 classification points for a win, 1 for a loss (including by default) and 0 for a loss by forfeit.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.1 · recall
One win at 2 points and two losses at 1 point each make 4.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.1 · recall
Three wins at 2 and two losses at 1 make 8.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.1 · recall
The procedure is used for all competitions with a round-robin system.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.2 · recall
The game(s) between the tied teams decide first.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3 · recall
Next comes the higher game points difference in the games between them.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3 · recall
In competitions with no FIBA ranking, a draw decides when the criteria cannot.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3 · applied
Head-to-head record, then head-to-head difference, then head-to-head points, then the whole group's difference.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3 · recall
Record, then points difference, then points scored, then the FIBA ranking.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.1 · recall
Two for a win, one for any loss but a forfeit, which gives none.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.1 · applied

Level on record, the game between them decides: A won it.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3, D.2.1 · applied
Once a team is classified, the procedure starts again from the beginning for the remaining teams.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.4 · recall
Only the games among the tied teams count at this stage.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3 · recall
Level on head-to-head record, the higher points difference between them decides.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3 · applied
With one team placed, the procedure restarts for the rest, so the game between the two decides first.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.4 · applied
In National Teams Competitions the relevant FIBA ranking determines the final classification.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3 · applied
The fourth criterion is the higher number of game points scored in all games in the group.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3 · recall
Once one team is placed, the procedure restarts for the remaining teams.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3-D.1.4 · applied
B leads on difference; C and D restart, and C beat D.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.2.2 · applied
B is first on difference; C and D restart and C beat D, so D is third of them.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.4, D.2.2 · applied

Forfeits, cross-group comparisons, phases and aggregate series.

Higher group placing in the Group Phase comes first.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.5.2 · recall
The teams on the same position in each group are placed in one group.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.1 · recall
The results of all games of the last placed team in the cross-over group are also nullified.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.3.3 · recall
One table of like-placed teams, judged on their revised group results.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.1 · recall
Games of the last placed team in the larger groups are nullified until all have played the same number.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.2 · recall
The annulment for cross-group purposes does not alter the initial standing of teams in their group.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.2 · applied
The results of a withdrawn or twice-forfeiting team are nullified from all relevant phases.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.5.1 · recall
Remove the withdrawn side everywhere first; only then rank the others.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.5.1 · applied
Higher group placing first, then win-loss record, points difference and points scored in the group phase.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.5.2 · recall
Level on record, so A's win over B settles it.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3 · applied

The 2 games are considered as 1 game of 80 minutes duration.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.1 · recall
If the score is tied at the end of the first game, no overtime is played.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.2 · recall
160 each, so game 2 needs overtime to separate them.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.7.5 · recall
The winner of both games wins the series.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.4 · recall
With one win each, the greater aggregate wins: A is 4 ahead.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.4, D.7.2 · applied
No overtime in game 1; B leads on aggregate 172-165.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.7.3 · applied
Game 2 needs overtime only if the aggregate is level; B leads 160-155.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.7.4 · applied
Overtime only in game 2, and only if the aggregate is tied.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6 · applied
Both wins first; otherwise aggregate; a tie goes to overtime in game 2.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.3-D.6.4 · applied
One win each, so the aggregate decides: A 152, B 148.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.4, D.7.2 · applied

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Appendix D (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)