Luka Doncic has been a superstar since he stepped foot in the NBA, but Sunday’s transcendent performance represents a familiar rite of passage for those with great expectations: the official “next step.”

Dallas paid Luka a rookie max extension worth $207 million this past summer for this precise moment, and he’s rewarding them as the postseason’s most lethal player. 

The Mavericks pulled off the improbable behind Doncic, who dominated in a Game 7 on the top-seed Suns’ home floor to launch Dallas into the Western Conference Finals — his deepest playoff run to date.

• The 23-year-old is now averaging 38 points in elimination games, highest in NBA history.
• Doncic (31.5 PPG) is second in postseason scoring behind Giannis Antetokounmpo (31.7).
• On Sunday, he became the first player to equal or exceed the opposing team’s combined point total in a half (27). 
• He single-handedly outscored Devin Booker, out-rebounded Deandre Ayton, and out-passed Chris Paul throughout the series.

The Mavericks have clearly molded their team — even their organization — around Doncic, hiring a simpatico coach in Jason Kidd, bringing in Doncic’s national team coach Igor Kokoskov as lead assistant, and hiring longtime friend Nico Harrison as general manager.

Then there’s that bold midseason trade swapping second star Kristaps Porzingis for Spencer Dinwiddie — who scored 30 points on Sunday.

Entering the season, the Mavericks were long shots to win the title (+2800), but Doncic has been unguardable — which just might be enough to take down the Warriors (+235).

On Sunday, the Rangers completed a 3-1 series comeback with another come-from-behind win — showing the resolve and sheer stubbornness of a team with serious Stanley Cup aspirations.

New York’s 4-3 overtime victory over Pittsburgh set a new NHL record as the third consecutive comeback win in an elimination game over a single series.

The Blueshirts have meticulously constructed a competitive roster with the NHL’s ninth-lowest total cap hit ($75.1M), adding big-money signings to a mix of veteran stalwarts and young, affordable talent.

• Game-winner Artemi Panarin signed a seven-year, $81.5M contract in 2019 — his $11.6M 2021-22 cap hit is second in the NHL behind Connor McDavid.
• Igor Shesterkin — in the first season of his four-year, $22.7M extension — recorded 255 saves in the series, a franchise record.
• Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad — who both set career highs in points this season — have the respective third- ($6.5M) and fifth-highest ($5.4M) cap hits on the team.
• Young stars Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, K’Andre Miller, and Adam Fox have played well on entry-level contracts each worth $925,000 per season.

Of the youngsters, only Fox — last season’s Norris Trophy winner — has signed a long-term extension so far, inking a seven-year, $66.5 million deal last offseason with the fourth-biggest cap hit ($9.5M) among defensemen in 2022-23.

Add head coach Gerard Gallant, who led the Golden Knights to their early success before taking over in June, and the Rangers’ title window is officially open.

Just when it appeared the Reds couldn’t sink any lower, they managed to find a historically bizarre way to lose.

On Sunday, the Reds didn’t allow a single hit against the Pirates — and still lost. 

Cincinnati managed to spoil a breakout performance by rookie starter Hunter Greene, who struck out a career-high nine batters in 7 1/3 hitless innings — only to watch as Pittsburgh scored the lone run of the game on a fielder’s choice.

It’s just the sixth time since 1900 that a team lost without giving up a hit — adding another dubious chapter to an already wasted season in Cincinnati. 

• The Reds (9-26) got off to their worst start in franchise history (3-22) and are already 13 games behind the first-place Brewers in the NL Central.
• The Reds are on pace to match the 1962 Mets for most losses in a season (120).
• Cincinnati has spent very little on the field — it has the 10th-lowest payroll ($116.5M) in the majors.

Greene has been the lone bright spot for the struggling Reds. The 2017 No. 2 pick — who earned a then-record $7.23 million signing bonus, more than the $7.19 million allotted for that draft spot — averaged 98.9 mph on his 51 fastballs in only his seventh start. 

But beyond him, the Reds are abysmal on both sides of the ball, with an MLB-worst minus-65 run differential.

It’s all about the future for the Reds, who haven’t won the World Series since 1990 — but if they don’t level up their on-field investment, they’ll be waiting for a long time.