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NBA passes new ‘heave’ rule that Payton Pritchard will love

Related Topics: Payton Pritchard, NBA

Starting with the 2025-56 season, missed end-of-period halfcourt heave attempts will no longer count towards an individual player’s field-goal percentage in NBA games.

Instead, those misses will be counted as missed field-goals for the team.

The NBA had previously tested out the rule during Summer League and G-League games. Now the change will take place in NBA games.

A “heave” is any shot from beyond 36 feet away from the basket taken within three seconds of the end of a quarter.

Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has hit several memorable halfcourt heaves, including a 49-foot buzzer-beater right before halftime in the clinching Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals.