It’s easy to get hyperbolic so early in the season where every game seems like a final verdict on the status of each franchise. However, it’s not a stretch to say the new look Toronto Raptors passed their first exam.

Despite coming in undefeated, the matchup against the Thunder was a litmus test as to just how far the retooled Raptors have come. More so culturally than schematically, their 103-98 victory over Oklahoma City shows the work that GM Masai Ujiri did in the off-season is paying early dividends.

It was a tough offensive start for the Raptors who were 5-of-24 from the field in the first quarter putting up just 13 points in the frame.

Toronto struggled with the size of the Oklahoma City frontline as the Thunder racked up six blocks and 14 points in the paint in the first 15 minutes alone. Offensively, the Raptors laboured as they only managed two assists in the opening quarter, while on the other end they couldn’t stop Russell Westbrook in the one-four pick-and-roll as the Thunder point guard carved the Raptors en route to eight first-quarter assists.

The previous incarnation of the Raptors would have laid down and taken the loss after getting down big so early.

All the excuses were there for them: They fell behind by 12, they were going against one of the elite teams in the league that was rested and at home – a place where since 2009 the Thunder have the second best home record in the NBA, only behind the San Antonio Spurs.

Yet, the fight that was so badly missing in the first round against the Washington Wizards last season was present in the second night of a West-coast back-to-back.

Dwane Casey appreciated his team’s resilience.

"It was a grind-it-out type game," the Raptors coach told reporters after the contest. "That shows mental toughness when you can win when everything is not clicking."

The Raptors clawed themselves back to a one-point lead at the half after finishing the second quarter on a 17-8 run. Still struggling in the half court offensively with just 31 per cent shooting at the half it was added intensity on defence that carried Toronto into the locker room, forcing 14 Oklahoma City turnovers.

There were moments when it seemed a meltdown was imminent. A pair of questionable fourth-quarter technical fouls on Bismack Biyombo and Kyle Lowry gave the Thunder free points and stemmed the Raptors’ momentum.

Toronto gave up 42 points in the third quarter but the defence for the bulk of the game was steady giving up just 16 in the second and 17 in the fourth.

No coincidence those were the two quarters where Cory Joseph got the bulk of his 26 minutes. The X-factor defensively, Joseph, the team’s unsung free agent signing, played the entire fourth quarter and guarded Westbrook during that time, holding him to just 1-of-8 shooting. He also finished the evening a game-high plus-22.

As a team the Raptors were active defensively down the stretch, not relinquishing a Thunder field goal in the last 5:13 of the game.

The closer late was the team’s elder statesman, DeMar DeRozan.

After being held scoreless in the first quarter, DeRozan had quarters of eight, 10 and 10 points, respectively, to carry Toronto offensively. His 28 points came on 7-of-18 shooting and by and large he was in attack mode all night, hitting all but one of his 15 free throw attempts.

The fight and the finish is the positive reinforcement that the off-season moves and defensive focus are working.

"I don’t know how many games we are going to win, but I do know we are going to scrap," Casey said.

Looking ahead, with a young, athletic Orlando Magic team rejuvenated by new coach Scott Skiles on Friday and one of the best starting five units in the league in the Miami Heat on Sunday, there is no time for the Raptors to rest on their laurels.

"We just have to enjoy it until midnight than get ready for Orlando," said DeMarre Carroll to reporters Wednesday night.

The Cinderella Raptors are hoping the slipper still fits long after midnight.