The San Antonio Spurs forced a decisive Game 7 on Thursday night, defeating the Denver Nuggets in Game 6, 120-103.
For Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan, it will be the first time he'll be able to shed the shadows of "former Raptor" and begin creating new memories in his new home.
Saturday night will be the fourth Game 7 of DeRozan's NBA career. He currently has a 2-1 record and has had some big moment on the big stage.
Here's how he fared in his past Game 7s...
May 4, 2014, vs. Brooklyn Nets
It was DeRozan's debut playoff run and he was going up against a bunch of guys who had been there and done it before.
The Nets roster was full of veteran players primed to make a run at the title, featuring Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson, Shaun Livingston and Deron Williams. The upstart Raptors were led by Kyle Lowry and DeRozan, both of whom had plenty to prove.
After trading wins the entire series, Toronto hosted Game 7 at the ACC. Pierce rejected a Lowry prayer with seconds to go and the Nets eliminated the Raptors.
DeRozan finished the game with 18 points and six assists on 5-for-12 shooting from the field. Some questioned his aggressiveness and willingness to attack the rim throughout the series and in Game 7 he responded by getting to the line seven times. It wasn't enough, though, as he suffered his first and only loss in a Game 7.
May 1, 2016, vs. Indiana Pacers
Almost a year to the day of the heart breaker loss the year before to the Nets, DeRozan and the Raptors had a chance to redeem themselves and win their first Game 7 in franchise history. The 2001 Vince Carter-led Raptors had defeated the New York Knicks in a deciding game, but that series was a best of five.
A year before DeRozan's toughness had been questioned, he would leave little doubt this time around about his will to win.
The Compton Kid led all scorers with a game-high 30 points as Toronto held off the Pacers in a low scoring grinder, 89-84.
May 15, 2016, vs. Miami Heat
Fresh off their first-ever Game 7 win in their previous series against the Pacers, the Raptors were at it again, this time against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat with an opportunity to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time ever.
The last time the Raptors had that same opportunity was again in 2001, when a Vince Carter fadeaway at the buzzer rimmed out. DeRozan and Lowry would leave nothing to chance this time as they blew the Heat out, 116-89, to secure a spot in the final four.
DeRozan finished with 28 points and eight rebounds on 12-for-29 shooting from the field.
