PHOENIX — In their much-anticipated season debut Wednesday night in Phoenix, the Dallas Mavericks put on a furious rally and got within four points of the Suns with seven minutes remaining in the game.

Then, Devin Booker happened.

After the Mavs climbed to within 94-90 of the Suns, Booker scored 19 of his game-high 35 points as Phoenix held off the Mavs and got out of Talking Stick Resort Arena with a 121-100 victory. In the aftermath, the Mavs pointed to their (lack of) defense as the main culprit as to why their regular season debut wasn’t a success.

“The second and third quarters (the defense) was pretty decent,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “Forty six points (allowed) in the second and third quarters is manageable. It’s probably even a winning number in today’s game.

“But 75 (points allowed) combined in the first and fourth (quarters) is disastrous. We’ve got to fix some things. We’re capable, but it’s pretty clear what our biggest problem is.”

All eyes on this nationally televised ESPN game were squarely on Mavs rookie Luka Doncic and Suns rookie Deandre Ayton as they were making their NBA debut.

Ayton finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Doncic collected 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists and sparkled with some nifty behind-the-back passes. However, Doncic was only 5-of-16 from the field (0-of-5 from 3-point range) accessed his performance by saying:

“For me, work on what I can do. For me, I will play better. I think the first quarter I started really good, but then with the foul trouble I had to go out.

“But like I said, I am not happy about a loss because I am a good competitive guy. I just want to win, so we have to bounce back.”

If the Mavs plan on bouncing back when they play their home opener Saturday against Minnesota, it’s imperative that they step up their game on the defensive end of the floor. The Suns looked too comfortable in shooting 54.3 percent from the field and an even more impressive 55.9 percent (19-of-34) from 3-point territory.

At times it was as if the Suns were engaging in target practice from beyond the 3-point arc as Booker made 6-of-10 3-pointers, Trevor Ariza made 5-of-9, and reserves TJ Warren and Josh Jackson each popped in 3-of-4 buckets from downtown.

“We didn’t play good, we didn’t make shots, we weren’t making shots, but we just got to keep it up on the defensive end,” said Dennis Smith Jr. who finished with 13 points and five assists. “We can’t let our offense affect that, and I think we did that tonight. We gave them a lot easier looks tonight.

“We were real bad defensively as well to start it out. I think they had 37 (points) in the first quarter. No matter who you’re playing, that’s unacceptable. We’ve got to do better on the defensive end.”

In making 70 percent of their field goals and six of their 10 hoops from 3-point range, the Suns rolled out to a 37-24 lead after the first quarter. DeAndre Jordan scored all 11 of his points in the first quarter and helped prevent the game from getting out of hand quickly.

But the damage had already been done as the Mavs spent the balance of the night playing catch up.

“The first quarter put us in a big hole,” Carlisle said. “You dig a hole like that early in the game it’s hard to get over the hump, especially on the road.”

The Mavs cut into their deficit and only trailed 56-46 at the half. And they still were nestled in that 10-point hole when they were behind 83-73 after the third quarter.

However, sparked by Dwight Powell (16 points, five rebounds) and J. J. Barea (nine points, 10 assists), the Mavs crawled to within four points of the Suns with seven minutes remaining in the game.Then a lightbulb went off in Booker’s head and he proceeded to do what he does best – become a beast to defend when he plays the Mavs.

“He’s a shot-maker and he got some momentum,” Carlisle said. “Hey look, we did some good things in the game — the stats won’t reflect it.

“I’ll make sure when I look at the film that I’ll keep that in mind, or try to keep that in mind. But we all got to do better.”

The Mavs played without two of their top six players as Harrison Barnes (strained right hamstring) and Dirk Nowitzki (sore left ankle) watched from the sidelines in street clothes.

“Our defense has to get a lot better,” said Jordan, who collected 12 rebounds. “Initially, we let them do whatever they wanted to.

“They had a lot of transition three’s and our transition defense wasn’t very good and wasn’t what we practice, so that’s on us as players. We’ve got to be better at that.”

NOTES: Devin Harris strained his left hamstring in the first half and did not return. In the locker room after the game, Harris told Mavs.com: “I’ll be alright.”. . .Center DeAndre Jordan will pledge $100 for every rebound he gets this season to the DeAndre Jordan Treehouse Giving Foundation to support, mentor and educate single parent families. And Jordan wants everyone to take the pledge. For more information on how to also take the pledge, go to http://djstreehousegiving.org . . .proprietor Mark Cuban said the Mavs are being extra cautious with Dirk Nowitzki and his sore left ankle. “We’re just afraid to rush it,” Cuban said. “Every time he tried to push, his body wasn’t ready and he had a little setback, so we’re just trying really not to push anything. “. .On the Mavs, Cuban said: “I never make any predictions, but we’re going to be better — that’s all you can do. If we can stay healthy we’re going to get better and better and better as the season progresses.”

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