A much-need win is required Wednesday to snap Raptors’ four-game slide

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There were more encouraging signs to emerge from Monday night’s loss to the reigning champions, small victories that in the big picture may bode well for the Raptors as they move into the off-season.

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While a loss remains a loss, there was something different in how the Raptors pushed the Denver Nuggets to the brink before the likes of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray pushed back by handing Toronto its fourth loss in a row.

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Losers of six of their past seven games, the Raptors close out their four-game road trip Wednesday night against the host Detroit Pistons.

When they last visited the Motor City on Dec. 30, the Raptors pulled off a blockbuster trade with the New York Knicks in the hours leading up to tipoff at Little Caesars Arena.

By the end of the night, the Pistons had ended their NBA record-tying losing streak at 28 games following their 129-127 victory over the short-handed Raptors, which rolled out a starting lineup featuring Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Denis Schroder and Gary Trent Jr.

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Siakam and Schroder have since been traded.

Barnes (hand) and Poeltl (finger) have each undergone surgery this month, while Trent Jr. (groin) was unavailable Monday night in the Mile High City.

Immanuel Quickley (hip flexor) was also ruled out as was Chris Boucher (knee), limiting Toronto’s roster to a nine-man rotation against the Nuggets.

Even with the odds so stacked against them, the Raptors showed resiliency by playing an efficient and energetic brand of basketball until the inevitable arrived in the third quarter when Denver showed its championship mettle, a 12-minute span when Nikola Jokic would score 19 points, haul down four rebounds, record four assists, four steals and post one block.

When Denver’s 125-119 win was officially in the books, the Joker had produced his 21st triple-double of the season and the 126th time Jokic had registered the statistical feat.

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Denver had to overcome a 22-point deficit and would use a 42-30 third-quarter advantage to help seize control of the game.

During the third period, Jokic had four steals en route to recording a season-high six.

The Joker and Jamal Murray combined to dish off 24 assists on a night the Nuggets would collectively produce 36.

Poor starts to begin the trip would lead to losses in Phoenix and Portland, where the host Blazers needed overtime to sweep their two-game season series over the Raptors.

In Denver, the Raptors came out with a purpose and were able to sustain a high level of play on both ends, even though one knew it could not be maintained for 48 minutes.

There was no shame in losing to the Nuggets, but now comes the hard part of bringing that first-half play into Detroit in what looms as one of the few winnable games remaining on Toronto’s schedule.

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Playing with intensity, showing one can go toe to toe with an elite team such as Denver must be applauded.

At the same time, it will all be forgotten if the Raptors don’t bring that edge against the Pistons.

Detroit is an 11-win team with three coming against Charlotte, who ended up getting swept by the Pistons in the season series.

Looking at Toronto’s remaining schedule, there are five games that can easily be described as winnable for the Raptors.

Eventually, the Raptors need to feel good about themselves, which can only be accomplished when an actual win is produced and not take solace from some moral victory.

There are two games left against both Washington and Brooklyn with the remaining 12 against opponents posturing for playoff slots or solidifying their hold for the play-in tournament.

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Morale wise and confidence wise, the Raptors can ill afford to come home following an 0-4 road trip.

Against the Nuggets, the Raptors led by as many as 22 points late in the second quarter before leading 68-51 at intermission.

Denver would rally in the final minutes of the third and only trailed by five points heading into the fourth quarter.

The deficit was reduced to three with 7:59 left in the game when the Nuggets would go on an 8-0 run to take the lead they would not relinquish.

The Raptors would make it a two-point game, but Michael Porter’s corner three-ball with 1:02 left pretty much sealed it.

Toronto was limited to 21 fourth-quarter points and went 0-for-4 from beyond the three-point arc.

Jontay Porter came off the bench by scoring a career-high 14 points, while fellow reserve Jalen McDaniels also played well.

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RJ Barrett would tie his career high by recording nine assists as the Raptors played without a true point guard.

Barrett scored a team-high 26 points on a night he also had seven rebounds.

There was Kelly Olynyk netting 24, Bruce Brown, who helped Denver during last spring’s title run, posting a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) and rookie Gradey Dick making his third start and second in as many games.

A season-high seven dimes would be recorded by Dick, who had his best overall game in the NBA.

Even Toronto’s best against the Nuggets wasn’t good enough.

It should be good enough against a Pistons team, provided the Raptors play with the same type of focus they showed Monday night until the champs began to flex their muscle.

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