MEXICO CITY -- In the aftermath of the Phoenix Suns' 113-108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, Suns coach Earl Watson listened intently to the question, before politely countering the assertion that perhaps Devin Booker was shouldering too much of the load.

Watson mentioned Booker is “on the verge of becoming a superstar.”

Booker certainly showed as much in the loss to the Mavericks, scoring 28 of his game-high 39 points in the fourth quarter. Booker’s scoring output ranks as the most in any quarter in Suns franchise history.

Still, it wasn’t enough.

“Defensively, we played poor,” Watson said. “Offensively, we can score with anyone. We understand that.”

In the case of this game, Booker lived up to Watson’s declaration by hitting 9 of 11 shots in the fourth quarter, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line, while the rest of the Suns produced four points on 2-of-8 shooting.

Booker’s fourth-quarter production against the Mavericks beat out Stephon Marbury’s previous high-scoring mark of 26 points in the fourth quarter on Nov. 29, 2002, against the San Antonio Spurs. Interestingly, Booker’s fourth-quarter output (28 points) alone would have ranked as the third-highest scoring game of the night as Kawhi Leonard racked up 31 points in the San Antonio Spurs’ victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, while Tyreke Evans produced 29 points for New Orleans Pelicans in their win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Booker’s performance against the Mavericks ranks as the second-most fourth-quarter points by any player this season behind Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas’ 29 points on Dec. 30 in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat.

Booker opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, and Phoenix quickly brought Dallas’ lead to within single digits, before the Mavericks opened up the lead again thanks to a couple of back-to-back 3s from Wesley Matthews. Booker scored on a transition bucket with 4:22 left to play that trimmed Dallas’ lead to eight.

But Dallas continued to answer, and so did Booker, who hit consecutive triples down the stretch before the Mavs secured the game with a late stop on defense.

“The Mavs played a great game. They deserved to win,” Watson said. “They outplayed us on both sides of the ball offense and defense; very efficient, shot the ball well from the 3.”