DALLAS _ A seemingly sleepy Monday night game between the 8-22 Mavericks and 10-21 Suns proved more eventful than most of us imagined possible.
No, not just the game, which had its moments as Dallas rallied frantically in the final seconds before falling, 97-91 At American Airlines Center.
Devin Harris' 3-pointer with 22 seconds left brought the Mavericks within 93-91, then the Mavericks got a steal and Wesley Matthews missed a potential go-ahead 3 with 16 seconds left.
After a Phoenix free-throw, Dallas got possession with 11.4 seconds left and a 3-point deficit, but Harris drove into the lane, got his shot blocked and the Suns sealed Dallas' sixth loss in its last seven games with late free-throws.
The night also included a surprise appearance by Cowboys' back-from-NFL-exile running back Ezekiel Elliott (and his mom), a first-quarter live-TV announcement of Derek Harper's jersey retirement date (Jan. 7) and another declaration from Mark Cuban that he's not the least bullish about the NFL's future.
A day after Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson's hasty announcement that he will sell the franchise after the season, Cuban was one of 12 potential Panthers suitors listed by Forbes magazine.
Cuban also was a popular choice bandied on Twitter, never mind Cuban's consistently negative remarks in recent years about the NFL's direction and future.
"Not interested at all in any NFL franchise," told The News in an email. After arriving at American Airlines Center, he elaborated.
"Why would I buy an NFL team if I think the league is in decline?" he asked.
Cuban spoke well before the arena began to fill up, with Elliott and his mom among the last to enter the courtside area, shortly after tipoff.
When Elliott, wearing a heavy dark sweater, yellow sneakers and black jeans with ripped knees, was shown on the AAC's videoboard, it produced arguably the loudest fan reaction of the night.
It was roughly 60-40 positive, with the boos either reflecting displeasure at Elliott for receiving a six-game suspension or the reasons behind the suspension or a mixture of both.
Elliott sat on the first row, under the basket nearest the Mavericks' bench, 12 seats from Cuban.
With such star power in the NFL, is there anything that would cause Cuban to reconsider? No, he said, especially given that NFL cross-ownership rules would force him to sell the Mavericks before buying any NFL team.
"There's no team I would want other than the Mavericks, certainly no football team in the universe," Cuban said. "There's not even a close second.
"I love the Mavs. I love Dallas. I mean, Charlotte's a great city, but there's nothing I don't like here _ other than losing right now. I would never turn my back on the city of Dallas.
"Like I've always said, Dallas has given me so much. And what am I going to say to my son and his friends or my daughter and her friends: 'Oh, yeah: Football's dangerous for you, but I bought a football team.
"I know I'm a hypocrite from time to time, but I really, really, really try not to be."
