Differences in game-related statistics of basketball performance by game location for men's winning and losing teams

The aim of the present study was to identify game-related statistics that differentiate winning and losing teams according to game location. The sample included 306 games of the 2004-2005 regular season of the Spanish professional men's league (ACB League). The independent variables were game location (home or away) and game result (win or loss). The game-related statistics registered were free throws (successful and unsuccessful), 2- and 3-point field goals (successful and unsuccessful), offensive and defensive rebounds, blocks, assists, fouls, steals, and turnovers. Descriptive and inferential analyses were done (one-way analysis of variance and discriminate analysis). The multivariate analysis showed that winning teams differ from losing teams in defensive rebounds (SC=.42) and in assists (SC=.38). Similarly, winning teams differ from losing teams when they play at home in defensive rebounds (SC=.40) and in assists (SC-.41). On the other hand, winning teams differ from losing teams when they play away in defensive rebounds (SC=.44), assists (SC=.30), successful 2-point field goals (SC=.31), and unsuccessful 3-point field goals (SC= -.35). Defensive rebounds and assists were the only game-related statistics common to all three analyses.