Function returing null

Question

I'm trying to get the value from an number input type but when i try to show the value it returns a null (ps: sorry I'm still a highschool student) HTML:

  <label for="nummatch"><h2>Number of Match/es:</h2></label>
        <input type="number" onkeyup="stop(this)" id="nummatch" name="number of matches" value="1" min="1" max="5">
        <br>
        <a  href="../html/Game Page.html#vsComputer"><button onclick="number()"><h1>VS Computer</h1></button></a>

JavaScript

   function number(){
       var times = document.getElementById("nummatch").value;
       return timesNum;
    }
       var time = number();
       console.log(time)

the console.log returns a error "Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read properties of null (reading 'value')"