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Score margin

As explained in Statistics Slam Dunk

A score margin is the difference between the points scored by two opposing teams in a game.

A score margin measures the difference between two opposing teams’ scores. In the game data, it is calculated from the road and home scores as margin = ptsR - ptsH, so negative values indicate a home-team win and positive values indicate a road-team win. section 17.4.3

NBA game example

Philadelphia scored 87 points against Boston’s 105, producing a margin of -18. Oklahoma City’s 100 points against Golden State’s 108 produced -8. These margins can be compared with opening and closing point spreads. section 17.4.3

Once calculated, the margin supports exploratory analysis: absolute differences compare it with opening and closing spreads, while SmartEDA summarizes its distribution and visualizes numeric relationships.

How Statistics Slam Dunk covers it

How deep it goes
Defines the calculation, demonstrates it in records, and extends it to spread comparisons and exploratory summaries.
Examples
Uses Philadelphia–Boston and Oklahoma City–Golden State scores to demonstrate margins of -18 and -8.
What it assumes
Assumes game-level road and home point variables named ptsR and ptsH.
What you can do after
Apply it via dplyr to calculate game outcomes and compare them with betting spreads.
How it connects
Connects score margin with point spread, opening spread, closing spread, and exploratory data analysis.
Cover of Statistics Slam Dunk
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This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Statistics Slam Dunk. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.