Mavericks star Luka Doncic has the 'perfect compliment' with rookie big man

The Dallas Mavericks' four-game winning streak came to an end Thursday when the team fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-101. All-Star Luka Doncic did his part as he poured in a double-double with 39 points and 13 assists.

Newcomer Dante Exum also performed well. The Mavs' defensive-minded guard had 14 points on 83 percent shooting. This was the fourth time in a row Exum dropped in double-digit points.

However, there is another newcomer that has stolen the show this season. Dallas rookie Dereck Lively II also did his part against Minnesota. He scored 15 points, grabbed six rebounds, and had two blocks.

Mavericks star Luka Doncic has the 'perfect compliment' with rookie big man

The 7-foot-1 center has improved this month. He is averaging 11.3 points per game and 9.7 rebounds in December. This is a jump from November when he averaged 7.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds.

The difference though has been the connection Lively II has with Luka.

The Mavericks duo has established a well-balanced chemistry on the court. Both players do a good job finding each other while setting up one another for success.

A prime example is the Dallas game against Minnesota. In the video above, Luka uses the pick-and-roll from Lively II to distract the defense. He then drops a sweet bounce pass to Lively II for an easy bucket.

Their lob threat is also another weapon of theirs. It's almost become accustomed in games that Luka finds Lively II for an open dunk. This is why the Dallas rookie leads the league in the number of attempted dunks.

Doncic and Lively II showcased their lob attack against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Their connection is something that sets them apart. Luka knows where Lively II is at all times, while the Dallas center understands his placement. In the sequence above, Doncic sets up Lively II by pulling in the defense and placing the ball in the perfect spot.

Luka and Lively II's chemistry has taken the league by storm. Other organizations have spoken about the Dallas duo. Minnesota's coach Chris Finch, recently discussed the connection between the two.

"He and Luka have a great chemistry. They lead the league in lobs, which is a big part of what they try to do here anyways so I think he's the perfect compliment."

Chris Finch

The chemistry between the two will continue to grow as both players play more games together.

Until then, look for more lobs and passes to Lively II down low. The Doncic and Lively II show is just getting started.

Stay tuned for the latest on Dereck Lively II and the Dallas Mavericks.