Raptors follow strong start with third-quarter collapse in loss to Nuggets

DENVER — The Toronto Raptors had to be happy with how they started against the Denver Nuggets.

How they finished? Nightmare, with echoes of last season’s flaws ripping just below the surface.

But at least they put themselves in position to be crushed.

Getting out of the first quarter has been an issue for the Raptors recently. They have been trailing after the opening 12 minutes in three straight games, losing two of them. They had given up at least 30 points to their opponents over those three games, giving up an average 33.3 points, 27th in the league.

Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic wanted things to change.

His formula?

“Energy, focus, physicality from the jump and just more urgency from the start of the game,” he said.

Perhaps as a nod to that he started second-year forward Collin Murray-Boyles at centre against Nuggets star Nikola Jokic ahead of Jakob Poeltl, who was available after missing two games with bursitis in his left shoulder.

And there were early returns. For long stretches of what ended up being a 128-109 blowout loss to the Nuggets, the Raptors looked primed and ready. Instead they were dealt another decisive defeat at the hands of a quality opponent, a pattern that is already looking all too familiar to how the Raptors performed against playoff-level teams last season.

So sure, the Raptors gave up 33 points in the first 12 minutes again, but at least they scored 35 and had the lead after what was one of their best all-around offensive periods of the young season. They led by two and got contributions from everyone who stepped on the floor. They made shots (60 per cent from the floor), knocked down threes (6-of-12) and moved the ball (11 assists on 14 field goals).

Nice start.

And they kept it going. The Raptors led 67-64 at half. There was lots to like. Immanuel Quickley (13 points, seven assists) picked up where he left off after a strong fourth quarter in the Raptors' win over the Clippers on Monday.

Murray-Boyles didn’t exactly lock up Jokic, who finished with a casual 32-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist triple-double while shooting 13-of-19 from the floor. But he hustled his way to 13 points, and his minus-4 in 23 minutes was the best among the starters.

But then the third quarter happened; there aren’t really words for it. “We started good today, which was positive,” said RJ Barrett, who led the Raptors in scoring with 22 points. “But then obviously, the third quarter was horrible.”

There is no other way to describe a quarter that you lost by 26 points. The Nuggets burst out of halftime on a 13-2 run punctuated by a Jamal Murray triple that caused Rajakovic to use his second timeout in less than three minutes.

But the avalanche was just beginning to rumble downhill. The Raptors were down just six points with 5:18 in the third. But a 21-6 run by the Nuggets to close the period put them down by 23 to start the fourth and the Raptors' night was effectively over.

“They came with a different mindset in the second half,” said Rajakovic post-game, referring to the Nuggets. “They were more aggressive; they did a better job on their close outs (after shooting 9/19 from three in the first half the Raptors were 3-of-15 in the second) and we didn’t take care of the ball.”

How do you lose a quarter 41-15? You shoot 5-of-23 from the floor and give up seven turnovers, while your opponent’s got 15-of-21 from the floor and makes just one turnover.

The loss dropped the Raptors to 4-4 as the Nuggets improved to 4-3. The Raptors get a chance to even their four-game road trip at 2-2 when the visit the struggling Milwaukee Bucks (1-7) on Friday.

But worth watching is that the Raptors have played three games against opponents that project to be playoff teams: the Timberwolves, the Lakers and now the Nuggets. The Timberwolves and the Nuggets blew them out and the Lakers were poised to do the same until an unlikely surge by the Raptors' deep bench after both teams had pulled their starters made the final score look respectable.

The Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard because they believed they were ready to compete against the NBA’s best. Based on early returns, Leonard is going to have to do a lot of heavy lifting.

Three-point Grange

New tricks: Prior to joining the Denver Nuggets, DeMar DeRozan had started every game he was healthy for since Oct. 27, 2010, his second season with the Toronto Raptors. DeRozan’s streak of 1,187 consecutive starts was the longest in the NBA over that period. Even LeBron James came off the bench once. But when DeRozan signed with the Denver Nuggets on a veteran minimum contract for his 18th season, he knew the streak was coming to an end. He’s come off the bench for the Nuggets and he’s still figuring it out.

“Towards the end, a lot of things become surreal. You know what I mean? Because when I was a kid. I never imagined playing 18 years, and still going, still having opportunities,” DeRozan – who was a late scratch with back spasms — said when we spoke before the game. “So from that standpoint, everything is still so new and still an adjustment.”

He rides the exercise bike to keep warm in the minutes he has always played or comes back to the Nuggets dressing room to do some stretching.

“I mean, I’m still trying to figure it out: what works, what rhythm works,” said DeRozan, who is averaging 10.7 points and 2.7 assists in 25 minutes a game so far this season and could end up top 15 in career scoring by season’s end. “It's still a progression for me. Just trying to stay ready, come in ready.”

The Nuggets signed him for just that. “The biggest thing for us was first of all, he's a veteran that's seen everything. The experiences up in Toronto, all the playoff games, having a guy you can throw the ball to an isolation situation late in the clock. You know those are all very attractive things. Then beyond that, his impact as a human being. He's just an amazing guy.”

Someone is always watching: It’s a cliché as old as the NBA almost: You’re on a never-ending audition and you never know which moment will lead to your next opportunity. Canadian national team point guard Ryan Nembhard is on two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets and it’s not an accident that he ended up here for his second NBA season.

“Last year he kicked our ass. Bottom line,” said Nuggets head coach David Adelman. "People don't think it's true, but the games people don't watch are the games people in the league do watch. And Ryan came in here with Dallas and made us look really stupid.”

Adelman’s not exaggerating. Nembhard — a rookie on a two-way contract with the Mavericks at the time — put up 28 points and 10 assists on 12-of-14 shooting to lead Dallas to an upset win. Nembhard was later signed by the Mavericks to standard contract, traded to Atlanta, then Charlotte before being waived by the Hornets just before training camp. The Nuggets were quick to pounce and confirmed words he was already living by: “I remember a lot of shots going in, it was a good night,” said Nembhard of his big night last season against Denver. “But you never know who’s watching and that kind of segued into me getting a contract, and I’m glad to be here; it’s a great organization.” Nembhard played the final four minutes against the Raptors and was scoreless.

Peak Murray? A year ago, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray had the NBA’s unofficial title of the best player to never make an all-star team. His well-earned reputation as one of the game’s best playoff performers took the edge off that. But it seemed fitting when the Kitchener, Ont. born guard earned both all-star and all-NBA recognition for what was a career-best (regular) season: 25.4 points and 7.1 assists — both career highs — and a blistering 43.5 per cent from three on 7.5 attempts per game.

So far this season, he’s been even better. Coming into Wednesday’s game against the Raptors, Murray was averaging 27.3 points and 5.7 assists while shooting 51.9 per cent on 8.7 attempts per game. He cooled off somewhat against the Raptors, finishing with 14 points and seven assists.