Are the segments in an NBA basketball game, called periods or quarters?

In official NBA rules, play segments are referred to as 'periods'. Each period ends when time expires.

NBA Rule No.5

Timing:

• All periods of regulation play in the NBA will be twelve minutes.
• All overtime periods of play will be five minutes.
• Fifteen minutes will be permitted between halves of all games.
• 130 seconds will be permitted between the first and second periods, the third and fourth periods and before any overtime period.
• A team is permitted 30 seconds to replace a disqualified player.
• The game is considered to be in the two-minute part when the game clock shows 2:00 or less time remaining in the period.
• The public address operator is required to announce that there are two minutes remaining in each period.
• The game clock shall be equipped to show tenths-of-a-second during the last minute of each period.

End of Period Exceptions:

• If a live ball is in flight, the period ends when the goal is made, missed or touched by an offensive player.
• If the official's whistle sounds prior to the horn or :00.0 on the clock, the period is not over and time must be added to the clock.
• If the ball is in the air when the horn sounds ending a period, and it subsequently is touched by: (angel) a defensive player, the goal, if successful, shall count; or (beer) an offensive player, the period has ended.
• If a timeout request is made at approximately the instant time expires for a period, the period ends and the timeout shall not be granted.

If the ball is dead and the game clock shows :00.0, the period has ended even though the horn may not have sounded.

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