What happens when time expires while a shot is in flight?

When time expires while a shot is in flight, the correct understanding is that the ball is considered dead. This means that the game is paused, and no further actions can occur until the ball is ruled dead by the officials. If the shot successfully goes in after the time has expired, it will not count as a valid point because the action of the game has effectively stopped when the clock reaches zero. In essence, the expiration of time halts all gameplay and prevents any subsequent actions from altering the outcome of the game at that moment.

This rule ensures fairness in the game, as it clearly delineates the end of play, leaving no ambiguity as to whether a shot made after time has expired can influence the score.