NBA Rookie Power Rankings: Mavericks' Lively II falls, Pistons' Thompson rises

Last night, the Dallas Mavericks rounded out a streak of back-to-back games with a 130-117 win over the Washington Wizards. The Wizards could be regarded as the worst team in the NBA, but to see the Mavericks comfortably put away a lesser opponent is a huge step up from last year's disastrous season.

Before the Mavs' win in Washington, the team played their third In-Season Tournament game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Just two days prior, the Mavs would dominate in New Orleans, but this cannot be said for Tuesday's game. The Mavs would get outscored 131-110 by the Pelicans.

Bouncing back for the Mavs would be critical, especially after such an ugly loss. Behind Tim Hardaway Jr's. 31-point night where he amassed seven three-pointers, the Mavericks would easily coast past the Wizards.

NBA Rookie Power Rankings: Mavericks' Lively II falls, Pistons' Thompson rises

Luka Doncic would recover nicely after a disappointing game in New Orleans. With 26 points, 10 assists, and just three rebounds short of a triple-double, he would restore the faith of many fans. Doncic would even limit his turnover problem to just three last night.

Rookie Dereck Lively II would continue to prove why he's an intricate piece for the Mavericks after a career night. He was just one rebound shy of posting his third career double-double, but with a career-high 17 points, including 13 in the third quarter, many fans were exposed to just how explosive Lively II can be.

It's clear to see that Lively II could be one of the more important rookies of his draft class, but where does he rank in this week's Rookie Power Rankings?

10. Marcus Sasser

Last week's rank: 7

Sasser's production has dropped immensely the past week, but he will remain in the top 10 after putting up a monster 26-point game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

9. Bilal Coulibaly

Last week's rank: N/A

Coulibaly finally gets some well-deserved recognition as he cracks the top 10. His offensive game is still a work in progress but he has shown flashes of being a high-caliber defensive stud.

8. Keyonte George

Last week's rank: N/A

George had an amazing Summer League and is now getting to showcase his offensive talent at the NBA level. The former Baylor standout is finally getting real minutes in the Jazz rotation and is proving his worth with some great performances off the bench.

7. Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Last week's rank: N/A

Jaquez has risen to the ranks of many rookie ladders. He continues to get more playing time in the Miami system and has filled in a much-needed role off the bench, which is why he lands at seven.

6. Brandon Miller

Last week's rank: 5

Miller continues to showcase his abilities, but with a drop-off in production, he has lost one spot. Miller will need to continue getting more efficient from the field, but through 10 games, it's clear to see why the Hornets took him at two in the draft.

5. Dereck Lively II

Last week's rank: 4

Unfortunately, Dereck Lively II dropped one spot in this week's power rankings. After a rough few games, including a disappointing four points in the Mavericks' loss to the Pelicans, it was clear he needed a bounce-back game.

He would get that bounce-back game last night against the Wizards. With a career-high 17 points, including nine rebounds. He would be a huge reason the Mavericks were so dominant over the Wizards.

Lively II has continued to raise many eyebrows in the national media. As a rookie, he has almost averaged a double-double. In the last few games, his rebound numbers have skyrocketed while his points per game have hovered around nine per game.

During most games, Lively II continues to dominate the paint in most matchups. However, against Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas, Lively II's youth would be shown on full display. Valanciunas dominated on the boards, and offensively, he got whatever he wanted in the second match.

As the Mavericks' competition continues to get harder, so will Lively II's. The Mavericks will play the Bucks, Kings, and Lakers in the next three games. For two out of the three games, Lively II will play All-Star caliber talent at the center position; it will be intriguing to see how the rookie plays in these high-caliber games.

4. Jordan Hawkins

Last week's rank: 6

Jordan Hawkins has continued to light up the scoreboard all season long. He became just the second rookie this season to post a 30-point game and more recently tied Victor Wembanyama for the most 25-point games this season.

Mavericks fans got a taste of Hawkins' hot shooting on Tuesday as the two matched up for an In-Season Tournament game in New Orleans. Hawkins would light up the scoreboard once again and lead the Pelicans to a much-needed win.

Putting up 25 points and five made threes, it was clear that Hawkins' scoring ability is going to be amazing.

Even during the Pelicans' five-game losing streak, Hawkins would work his way into the rotation and is now a vital piece moving forward. Many fans were unsure if the rookie would get much playing time, but after a lower-body injury to the Pelicans' starting guard CJ McCollum, it cleared the way for a Hawkins takeover.

The Pelicans will look to lean on Hawkins' scoring ability for the next few weeks as McCollum will remain sidelined, but with what we've seen already, he could become a key rotational piece for the Pelicans moving forward.

The Mavericks will play the Pelicans again in January where they will get their turn at a home and home matchup.

3. Chet Holmgren

Last week's rank: 2

Chet Holmgren has looked all the bit of a dominant center in this league. Averaging just under 16 points per game, seven rebounds, and over two blocks, he has looked amazing to begin his rookie campaign.

However, after a few disappointing games on national television, he will fall one spot in this week's list. Against the San Antonio Spurs, he scored just nine points on 30 percent shooting from the field. This was undoubtedly his worst game of the season.

Even with a terrible game on national television, Holmgren has looked very impressive as a rookie. Currently, the Thunder hold a 7-4 record, and Holmgren has been a huge reason for the winning record.

Defensively, Holmgren has even proved to potentially be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate with his two blocks per game. Holmgren's length has been a huge factor in disrupting player's drives to the rim.

He has looked like the most consistent rookie on this list but has yet to put up a monster performance in a big game. As the Thunder continue to win games, it will be critical that Holmgren continues to develop on both ends of the floor.

The Mavericks will get their first crack at the Thunder on December 2.

2. Ausar Thompson

Last week's rank: 3

Entering the year, Ausar Thompson's name would never have been mentioned in the same breath as "Rookie of the Year." However, it's clear today that Thompson has become the highest riser for the prestigious award.

Averaging a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, Thompson has shocked many as a rookie. His elite rebounding and amazing defensive presence have made him a potential All-Defensive Team kind of player.

Behind his double-double, Thompson has averaged a steal and two blocks per game, which only makes his case for all defense that much deeper.

Thompson has been regarded as having a veteran-type playstyle already just a few games into his rookie season. With the numbers he has put up, it's hard not to consider Thompson for Rookie of the Year.

The only concern fans have had with Thompson has been his shooting. Through 12 games, Thompson has marked an embarrassing 15 percent from behind the arc. It's clear that Thompson's offensive upside isn't due to his shooting numbers, but if he can develop a shot, the sky is the limit for the young Piston.

It will be important that Thompson at least becomes respectable from behind the arc, but as it stands, he will find himself just under the number one spot in this week's rookie rankings.

1. Victor Wembanyama

Last week's rank: 1

Victor Wembanyama is the only rookie on this list to remain neutral. Remaining at the number one spot not only made sense but was an easy decision.

Wembanyama has continued to showcase his dominance on both ends. Averaging 19 points per game, nine rebounds, and two blocks, he has looked every bit of the Rookie of the Year.

The holes in Wembanyama's game have been little and far between, which has been critical for Wembanyama's success. Even with the Spurs slipping down the rankings, Wembanyama has been one of the few bright spots on their roster.

His length and athleticism have freed up a lot of transition opportunities for the Spurs. If the Spurs wish to be more competitive, they need to start integrating Wembanyama more in the offense.

The Spurs are currently 3-8 and are posting one of the Western Conference's worst records. The only thing that can currently hurt Wembanyama's Rookie of the Year campaign would be his team's record. It will be critical that he at least makes the Spurs a competitive team once again in the Western Conference, but even then, team record doesn't get considered much for this award.

The Dallas Mavericks will play the San Antonio Spurs just two days before Christmas day. For more updates on Mavericks basketball and Dereck Lively II's rookie campaign, stay plugged in every day.