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Rodrigo Cervantes

The Phoenix Suns fell 108 to 113 against Dallas Mavericks in their first of two home games in Mexico City.

Rodrigo Cervantes

The Phoenix Suns fell 108 to 113 against Dallas Mavericks in their first of two home games in Mexico City.

Rodrigo Cervantes

Cesar Cardona, a native of Mexico City, said the Suns' game against the Mavericks was first time attending an NBA game. He likes Boston Celtics, but rooted for the Suns at the game, he said.

The Phoenix Suns played the first of two regular season games in Mexico City Thursday night, and more than the game was at stake, as Arizona officials also met with Mexican leaders at the game.

The Suns opened against the Dallas Mavericks to a sold-out crowd at the 22,000-capacity Mexico City Arena. And a few rows above the court was Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.

"Don't be fooled by the basketball diplomacy that's going on here," Stanton said. "We do have a packed trip."

Stanton was scheduled to meet with the head of economic development from Queretaro, a manufacturing hub in Central Mexico, he said. And Stanton said he was planning on taking a representative from Phoenix Sky Harbor to a meeting he’s very excited about.

"A leading airline here in Mexico," Stanton said. "The more we can provide transportation connections between Phoenix and Mexico the better off we're going to be from a business perspective."

At the buzzer, the Suns fell to the Mavericks 108 to 113. The Suns are scheduled to face off against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday afternoon.