How to Read a Box Score: NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL Stats Decoded

The final score tells you who won. The box score tells you how. Every sport has its own shorthand, so here is a quick guide to the columns you will see on our game pages.

Basketball (NBA, WNBA, college)

• MIN: minutes played
• FG, 3PT, FT: field goals, three-pointers and free throws, written made-attempted (8-15 means 8 makes on 15 shots)
• OREB, DREB, REB: offensive, defensive and total rebounds
• AST, STL, BLK: assists, steals and blocks
• TO, PF: turnovers and personal fouls
• +/-: the team's point differential while that player was on the court

The line score above the box shows points by quarter, plus any overtime periods.

Baseball (MLB)

The line score lists runs by inning, followed by three totals: R (runs), H (hits) and E (errors).

• Batting: AB (at-bats), R (runs), H (hits), RBI (runs batted in), BB (walks), SO or K (strikeouts), AVG (batting average)
• Pitching: IP (innings pitched), H, R, ER (earned runs), BB, SO, ERA (earned run average)

Innings pitched count outs in thirds, so 5.2 IP means five innings and two outs, not five and two-tenths.

Football (NFL, college)

• Passing: C/ATT (completions and attempts), YDS, TD, INT
• Rushing: CAR (carries), YDS, AVG (yards per carry), TD
• Receiving: REC (catches), YDS, TD, TGT (targets)
• Team stats: first downs, third-down efficiency (5-12 means converted 5 of 12), total yards, turnovers and time of possession

Hockey (NHL)

• Skaters: G (goals), A (assists), PTS (points), +/- (even-strength and shorthanded goal differential while on the ice), PIM (penalty minutes), SOG (shots on goal)
• Goalies: SA (shots against), SV (saves), SV% (save percentage), GAA (goals-against average)

The line score shows goals by period, with OT and SO columns when a game goes past regulation.

Put it to use

Open any final on today's scoreboard or yesterday's scores and the box score sits right under the result. Want to know how these numbers turn into playoff spots? Read our explainers.