How to Read a Basketball Box Score: Points, Rebounds, Assists, FG% and Plus/Minus

A basketball box score packs the story of a game into a small table. At first the abbreviations can look like a secret code, but each one has a simple meaning. This guide decodes the main stats you will find on a box score, so you can see who really drove the result. Use it alongside our NBA live scores.

The basic counting stats

• MIN: minutes played.
• PTS: points scored.
• REB: rebounds, split into offensive (OREB) and defensive (DREB). A rebound is a player gaining possession after a missed shot.
• AST: assists, passes that lead directly to a made basket.
• STL: steals, taking the ball from an opponent.
• BLK: blocks, deflecting an opponent's shot attempt.
• TO: turnovers, giving the ball away to the other team.
• PF: personal fouls. A player is disqualified after six fouls in the NBA.

How points are scored

Baskets are worth different values depending on where the shot is taken:

• Free throw: 1 point, taken from the line after a foul.
• Two-point field goal: any shot made inside the three-point line.
• Three-point field goal: 3 points for a shot beyond the arc.

Shooting stats

You will usually see shooting as made-attempted, such as FG 9-18, which means 9 field goals made out of 18 attempts. The related percentages are:

• FG%: field goal percentage, or made shots divided by attempts. 50% is considered excellent for most players.
• 3P / 3P%: three-pointers made and the percentage. Around 36 to 38% is good in the NBA.
• FT / FT%: free throws made and the percentage. Strong shooters exceed 85%.

A player who scores 24 points on 9-for-18 shooting is more efficient than someone who scores 24 on 9-for-26, even though the point totals are identical.

Plus/minus (+/-)

Plus/minus shows how the team's score changed while a player was on the court. If a player's team outscored the opponent by 12 points while they played, the player is +12. It is not perfect, because it depends on teammates and opponents, but it can show a player's overall impact in a single game.

Double-doubles and triple-doubles

• Double-double: reaching ten or more in two statistical categories, such as 22 points and 11 rebounds.
• Triple-double: ten or more in three categories, such as 18 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. They are rare and a sign of an all-around performance.

Team stats to watch

• Points in the paint: scoring close to the basket.
• Fast-break points: points scored on quick transitions.
• Turnovers and points off turnovers: a high number of turnovers can decide close games.
• Bench points: contributions from reserves.

Advanced metrics you may see

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage): adjusts FG% to give extra credit for three-pointers.
• TS% (true shooting percentage): accounts for two-pointers, three-pointers and free throws in one efficiency measure.
• Usage rate: the share of team plays a player ends with a shot, free throw or turnover while on the court.

How to read one in 30 seconds

1. Check the final score and the team shooting percentages. The team that shot better often won.
2. Look at rebounds and turnovers to see who controlled the extra possessions.
3. Scan the top scorers, but check their shooting efficiency.
4. Look at plus/minus to spot role players who made an impact.

When you know what the numbers mean, a box score is not just a record; it is an explanation of why a team won. If you are also curious about how the league season finishes, take a look at our guide to the NBA playoffs and play-in tournament.