Up-for-sale Phoenix Suns pull off impressive 17-point comeback victory over the Dallas Mavericks  

Devin Booker scored 28 points, Damion Lee made a leading baseline jumper with 9.7 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns overcame a 22-point deficit to beat the Dallas Mavericks 107-105 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.

Lee – who signed off-season with the Suns after four seasons with Golden State – hit the controversial 3-foot jumper, finishing a big fourth quarter with a pair of three-pointers.

Dallas star Luka Doncic missed a long three-pointer on the buzzer.

It was an impressive come-from-behind victory for the Suns, who took a win against the team that embarrassingly eliminated them from the playoffs last season.

Luka Doncic #77 handles the ball during the first half of the game against the Phoenix Suns

Along with this, Phoenix faced one of the NBA’s tougher off-seasons this year, but showed they are still among the league’s most dangerous teams.

The organization was turned upside down after the investigation into majority shareholder Robert Sarver. The NBA suspended Sarver and fined him $10 million earlier this month after investigations revealed he had made racist comments, bullied employees, mistreated female employees and managed a hostile work environment while in charge of Suns.

After being pressured by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as well as other NBA owners, Sarver announced his intention to sell the team.

This was not the only issue Ayton faced as center and former No.1 pick, and is still at odds with the organization.

Not only was Ayton on the bench in the fourth quarter when Phoenix was eliminated from the playoffs, but was also left unhappy due to contract negotiations with the team. He tried to sign with the Indiana Pacers, but being a restricted free agent, the Suns were able to match the deal.

Deandre Ayton (22) reacts after an action in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks

Speaking to the media during training camp, Ayton seemed much less happy than his normal self and said he was approaching the season from a business perspective.

In addition, Jae Crowder requested a trade during training camp and has not been with the team since. Crowder has been a key part of the Suns lineup over the last few seasons of their recent success

The Mavericks led 67-45 and 93-80 with eight minutes to go early in the third quarter, but the Suns kept pushing. Cameron Payne’s layup put the Suns at 101-100 with 3:10 remaining for the first lead since the first quarter.

Doncic scored 35 points for the Mavericks. Christian Wood added 25 points and eight rebounds on his team debut.

Christian Wood #35 handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns

Dallas built up a 21-point lead in the second quarter, but the Suns narrowed that advantage back to 77-76 on the jumper Payne late in the third. Wood made back-to-back 3s – including one that fell off the glass – to push the Mavs back on top 88-76 early in the fourth.

But the Suns never stopped playing. Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Cameron Johnson added 15 points and Mikal Bridges had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson left the game in the fourth quarter and went back to the locker room with an undisclosed injury.

Entering his fifth NBA season, Doncic, 23, scored 13 points as the Mavericks jumped to a 32-24 lead after the first quarter. Dallas extended his lead to 21 in the second before settling for a 62-45 halftime advantage.

Mikal Bridges #25 handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks

It was the first game for the Suns since their embarrassing 123-90 home defeat to the Mavs in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The top seeded Suns had won 64 games during the regular season, setting a franchise record.

Despite that disappointment, GM James Jones chose to keep most of the core by signing Booker and Ayton to lucrative long-term deals.

The Mavericks – who lost to the Warriors in the Western Conference final after beating the Suns – also have a similar roster, though they lost to the Knicks in free agency to Jalen Brunson.

Cameron Johnson (23) saves the ball from going out of bounds during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks