SportsDataIO Help Center Stat Corrections: Client FAQ

Stat Corrections: Client FAQ

Stat corrections are a normal, expected part of sports data. This FAQ explains why corrections happen, how timelines differ by league, and how to plan for them on your platform.

Frequently asked questions

What is a stat correction?

A stat correction is a routine scoring change to a play that results in stat changes for one or more players, such as a blocked shot attempt in basketball that gets adjusted to a pass with a steal. These adjustments often happen throughout a live game, but can regularly occur postgame as the league performs their scoring reviews.

Who decides the final, correct stat?

The league's official scorers do. SportsDataIO is not the official data provider, so our feed follows multiple verification layers and reflects their revisions as they are published.

Why do stats change after a play or a game?

Real-time stat collection involves judgment calls made at full game speed. Many plays look nearly identical in the moment and are revised after review, for example:

  • A blocked shot versus a stolen pass
    • An assist versus no assist
      • An intentional tip versus an unintentional deflection on a rebound

        Official scorers routinely clean these up once they can review the footage.

        When are stats final, and how does closing work?

        Correction timelines vary by league. Leagues with structured review processes, such as the NFL and MLB, tend to settle corrections on a more predictable schedule. Faster-paced leagues, such as the NBA and NHL, see more frequent post-game cleanups that are rarely published as formal lists.

        SportsDataIO closes a game only once our verifications align with external and league sources. Even after a game is closed, those sources can still update statistics for any of the reasons covered in this FAQ, so later corrections remain possible. How and when markets settle on your platform remains your decision.

        What if I notice a data error?

        Please contact us when you see signs of a systemic issue, such as missing box scores, stats that do not match the official source, or data that stops updating. These are signs of data errors and would not be considered standard stat corrections.

        Questions not covered here? Reach out to our support team Support@sportsdata.io and we will be glad to help.

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