DALLAS, Texas, (Reuters) – The Dallas Mavericks kicked off the Super Bowl week party by sending the Washington Wizards to their 24th straight road loss with a 102-92 win on Monday in front of the cheering Pittsburgh Steelers.
With the celebrities and high rollers beginning to flow into the “Big D” for the biggest game in American sports, the Steelers were quick to get in on some of the Super Bowl fun and took in the game from a private box.
Searching for their first away win of the season, the Wizards had threatened to spoil the party atmosphere when they got to within four of the Mavs at 95-91 with less than three minutes to play.
The Wizards’ road woes would continue, however, when Dirk Nowitzki hit a jump shot and Jason Kidd followed with a three-point dagger to clinch the Mavericks fifth consecutive win.
“They’re a persistent team, they’re going to win some games on the road,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle warned reporters.
“For all the games that they (Washington) have lost, they compete. They make you play offensively and if you don’t they run through you.”
