NBA approves harsher penalty for ‘take’ fouls, makes Play-In Tournament permanent

“Take” fouls? The NBA’s Board of Governors chose instead Tuesday to leave them.

Say goodbye this coming season to those anticlimactic, clock-stopping, not-at-all scintillating plays. Or at least, expect to see far fewer with this rule change that dials up the penalty when a defender intentionally commits a “transition take foul” to thwart his opponent’s breakout opportunity.

Previously, a side-out inbounds situation or at worst (in the bonus) a pair of free throws was deemed a small price to pay, compared to chasing the other team and the ball downcourt for a high-percentage scoring chance.

Now the team whose break was stopped will get one free throw — which can be shot by any of its players on the floor — and retain possession anyway.