When context matters: physical and technical-tactical performance across game quarters in semi-professional male basketball players

This study aimed to identify physical and technical-tactical performance profiles across basketball game quarters using a context-informed approach based on specific quarter scenarios. Physical load variables and game-related statistics were collected for each quarter. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the number of variables into meaningful performance dimensions, and linear mixed models examined the influence of quarter-specific contextual scenarios and playing-time clusters. PCA identified five performance components: (1) free-throw related indicators, (2) external load, (3) 2-point shooting, (4) 3-point shooting, and (5) defensive performance. Quarter-specific contextual scenarios only influenced the free-throw component (p < 0.05), whereas no contextual effects were observed for external load, shooting performance, or defensive performance (all p > 0.05). Playing-time clusters significantly affected the free-throw, external load, 2-point shooting, and 3-point shooting components (all p < 0.001), while defensive performance remained unchanged (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that individual basketball performance during game quarters is more closely associated with playing time than with quarter-specific contextual scenarios. While contextual effects were limited to free-throw performance, quarters with greater playing time showed higher cumulative physical and shooting-related outputs, an expected consequence of greater court exposure rather than necessarily higher per-minute efficiency.