DeMar Derozan helped the San Antonio Spurs to a Game 6 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night with an extremely efficient performance that quieted the whispers of him “choking” in years past.

With the weight of expectation lifted from his shoulders as a member of the Toronto Raptors — a team which had championship hopes but stumbled against the Cleveland Cavaliers on multiple occasions — Derozan hasn't faced the same level of pressure this year for a team which is not expected to play for the NBA title. DeRozan had the chance to play more freely and easily as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs, though not resembling the elite teams that shaped the narrative of the NBA in the 2000s and early 2010s, continue to click along and win at a steady rate. It shows head coach Gregg Popovich’s brilliance that his teams often develop different but effective coping strategies year-over-year based on their personnel.

DeRozan will hope to make bigger strides in future seasons, but with San Antonio facing elimination on Thursday, the former Raptor encountered genuine pressure. NBA observers know how well he has handled pressure in the past: not well at all.

In that light, it can be said that in Game 6, DeRozan’s performance was one of the best of his postseason career.

Against the Nuggets, who seemed thoroughly outmatched, DeMar DeRozan produced a strikingly efficient stat line of 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting with seven rebounds, seven assists and, perhaps most importantly, only one turnover.

His 25 points were second only to LaMarcus Aldridge on the team, and his 36 minutes were second behind only Aldridge.

No matter what Game 7 brings on Saturday in Denver, perhaps Derozan helped put his playoff demons to bed after his performance in Game 6.