The horn sounds, the ball is still high above the court, and the crowd waits for it to drop. A basket arriving after the end of a quarter can be perfectly valid. The useful moment to examine is earlier: when did the ball leave the shooter’s hands?
Follow the release, then follow the flight
Under Article 10.4 of the FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, a shot already in flight does not become dead simply because the game-clock signal ends the period; the goal counts if made. Article 9.7 also specifies that red backboard perimeter lighting takes precedence over the sound where that equipment is present.
For a straightforward example, imagine a legal jump shot that leaves the player’s fingertips just before the end signal and passes through the basket afterwards. The later arrival at the ring does not invalidate it. Watching only the moment the net moves misses the timing question.
A raised ball is not necessarily a released ball
A player may have jumped and begun the shooting action while still holding the ball when time expires. Starting that movement earlier does not by itself make a late release count. That distinction explains why a dramatic photograph of an airborne shooter is often insufficient evidence.
When watching a replay, separate three observations: the last contact with the shooter’s hand, the end-of-period indication, and what happens during the ball’s flight. Do not merge them into the single impression that the player “got the shot up.” A broadcast angle can hide the hand, and a short social-media clip may omit the relevant signal.
Keep the example within its limits
This explanation concerns a clean shot released before a period ends. A later player touch, a foul or another infringement can require a different ruling. It also uses FIBA rules; a local competition may have its own regulations and equipment.
For spectators, the most useful habit is patience. Watch the officials’ decision and identify the timing evidence before arguing from the sound of the horn alone. The spectacle happens at the basket, but the decisive part of a buzzer-beater often happened at the fingertips.