In a nail-biting overtime showdown against the Denver Nuggets, the Toronto Raptors gave their all but ultimately fell short, losing 127-125. With every quarter, the Raptors traded blow after blow with the defending champions, igniting hopes of an upset on Denver’s turf. But as the final buzzer sounded, Raptors’ head coach Darko Rajakovic wasn’t interested in consolations or silver linings.

“I don’t believe in moral victories,” Rajakovic stated bluntly after the game. “I believe in winning.”

The message was simple, clear, and cutting: good isn’t good enough. For Rajakovic, this wasn’t a case of “close, but not quite.” Instead, he viewed it as a lost opportunity, a contest where nothing less than victory would suffice.

This intense stance by Rajakovic sends a signal not only to his own team but also to the entire league. The Raptors aren’t content with “almost” or “just about.” They’re here to win—and they’ll treat anything less as motivation to push harder, drive further, and perfect their strategy to dominate next time.

The loss to the Nuggets might sting, but for Rajakovic, it’s nothing more than a challenge—a challenge to keep fighting for every win until they get it right.