Dallas at Phoenix

[Real Deal]

TIME: 10:30 PM ET

TV: TNT

[Real Deal]

http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/basketball/nba/img21299017.jpg

 

PHOENIX -- Fans were guaranteed a good time or their money back at the Phoenix Suns' game against Dallas.

 

They were not guaranteed a victory, and they didn't get one -- just another failed Phoenix comeback.

 

A tough, fall-away 21-footer by O.J. Mayo proved to be the difference as the Mavericks handed the Suns their fifth loss in a row, 97-94 on Thursday night.

 

It was a nice bounce-back for a Dallas team beaten by 22 by the Clippers in Los Angeles 24 hours earlier, the Mavericks' fourth loss in five games.

 

"After playing a game last night we could have made a lot of excuses for ourselves as far as we had a tough game last night and didn't play well, but we flushed it and we came today with a lot of energy," Mayo said.

 

Mayo scored 23 points, including that go-ahead jumper with 35 seconds to go. Brandan Wright and Darren Collison scored 16 apiece for Dallas. Wright's total was a season high. Chris Kaman added 15 points.

 

"We played one of our strongest-willed games," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "Difficult situation, losing time coming off the back-to-back and a rough one last night. Everybody played with a lot of heart, a lot of guts. It was really a war of attrition out there with the injuries and all the stuff going on. Everybody hung in and we found a way and it's a huge win for us."

 

Markieff Morris had 15 points and a career-best 17 rebounds for the Suns, who rallied from 15 down in the third quarter to tie it in the final minute.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121206_DAL@PHO