When do I start and stop the game clock?

Under Art. 50.2, the timer starts the game clock when:

• on the opening jump ball, the ball is legally tapped by a jumper;
• after a missed last free throw that stays live, the ball touches or is touched by a player on the court;
• on a throw-in, the ball touches or is legally touched by a player on the court.

The timer stops the game clock when:

• time expires at the end of a quarter or overtime, if the clock doesn't stop itself;
• a referee blows the whistle while the ball is live;
• a goal is scored against a team that has asked for a time-out;
• a goal is scored when the game clock shows 2:00 or less in the 4th quarter and in each overtime;
• the shot clock signal sounds while a team is in control of the ball.

Other timer duties:

• Make sure the game clock signal sounds very loudly and automatically at the end of each quarter. If it fails or isn't heard, tell the referees immediately by any means. Where the backboard has red perimeter lighting, the light takes precedence over the sound.
• Only sound your own signal when the ball is dead and before it becomes live again.
• After a foul near the end of a quarter, the referee decides how much time is left, with a minimum of 0.1 seconds shown.