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.

“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).

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........

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