NBA GAME SIMULATOR
Pick two real 2026-27 rosters, set the starters, and simulate the full 48 minutes, possession by possession: box score, quarter scores and the plays that decided it.
Tap a player to start him in someone's place, send him to the bench, rule him out, or change his minutes by 4. Right side is the home team unless neutral. Best of 7 gives that team home court.
How this NBA simulator plays a game
Most basketball game simulators hand you a final score and nothing else. This one plays the whole game. Every possession, the engine picks who takes the shot based on how much of his team's offense he really carries, decides between a three, a mid-range jumper or a drive, and checks it against the five defenders on the floor: perimeter defense for jumpers, rim protection and shot-blocking for drives.
Turnovers, steals, shooting fouls, and-ones, offensive rebounds and free throws all come out of the same matchup math, so a team that crashes the glass gets extra shots and a team that lives at the line gets there in the sim too. Players get tired, the rotation follows real minutes, starters close tight games, and anyone who picks up six fouls is done for the night.
Because each game is one roll of the dice, upsets happen, just like the real league. Use Run 100 games for a steadier read: it turns the game sim into an NBA matchup simulator that reports how often each side wins and the average score. Best of 7 plays the series, first team to four, with the team on the right holding home court.
Real rosters, tiers instead of ratings
All 30 teams use their current 2026-27 rosters. Each player's profile is built from his real per-game numbers from the 2025-26 season: scoring, shooting percentages, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes. Rookies are built from their college production.
You won't see invented ratings like "87 overall." Players are grouped into tiers instead: S for the league's elite, then A, B, C and D. The last-season stat line next to each name is the real one.
Want to test a lineup idea? Bench a starter, rule a star out, or play a game on a neutral court. Home court is worth a few points, roughly what it is in the real NBA. Share the game and the link keeps those starters. It is a free NBA sim game with no download: every game runs in your browser.
FAQ
How does the NBA game simulator work?
Every game is played possession by possession. On each trip the engine decides who shoots, what kind of shot it is, whether the defense forces a turnover, blocks it or fouls, and who grabs the rebound. Players tire, rotate on and off the floor and can foul out, so a box score builds up the same way it does in a real game.
Are the rosters and stats real?
Yes. Rosters are the current 2026-27 NBA rosters and each player's profile is built from his real per-game numbers from last season. Player strength is shown as an S, A, B, C or D tier rather than a made-up rating number.
Can I simulate a playoff game or a back-to-back?
Yes. Under Game conditions you can make it a playoff game or a Game 7 (shorter rotations, heavier minutes for starters, slower and tighter play, a louder home crowd), put either team on a back-to-back, change the referees and the tempo, turn on in-game injuries, have a player play through an injury, add altitude when Denver or Utah are at home, or give each team a game plan such as letting it fly from three, attacking the paint, riding its star or playing defense first. The conditions also apply to Run 100 games and to Best of 7, so you can see how much a back-to-back or a game plan changes a matchup. A series uses playoff settings on its own, and the game that makes it 3-3 is a Game 7, unless you already set the stakes.
Can I choose the starting lineup?
Yes. Tap a player to start him in place of one of the current starters, move a starter to the bench, or rule a player out for the game. Minutes start from each player's real playing time. Open a player and use minus 4 or plus 4 to change his minutes; the rest of the rotation absorbs it. Share this game keeps that lineup and those minute changes.
Can I use it as an NBA matchup simulator?
Yes. Pick any two teams, then use Run 100 games to play that matchup 100 times. You get each team's win percentage and the average score, which is a steadier read than a single game. Bench or rule out players first to test a what-if lineup. Best of 7 plays the series, first team to four wins, with the team on the right holding home court.
What does Run 100 games do?
It plays the same matchup 100 times and reports how often each team won and the average score, which is a better read on a matchup than any single game.
Can I call a timeout?
Yes. Check Call the fourth, and the game stops after three quarters. You pick how the team on the right closes: feature the star, move the ball, get stops, or push the pace. That call only changes the fourth quarter. Run 100 games and Best of 7 do not stop. A shared link keeps the call.
Is the NBA game simulator free?
Yes. It is completely free, runs in your browser on phone or desktop, and needs no download or sign-up. There is no limit on how many games you simulate.
Is this an official NBA product?
No. It is an independent fan-made simulator and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NBA or any of its teams.