In a spectacular return to the Toronto Raptors, Kawhi Leonard led the team to a dominant 135-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls in their home opener. Leonard showcased his skills with 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists, despite facing some shooting struggles.
The Raptors, with Leonard back on the roster following a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, demonstrated their strength early on, leading by a whopping 48 points at one stage in the game. Alongside Leonard’s performance, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also contributed 23 points each, with Barnes impressing with six rebounds and five assists, while Quickley showcased seven assists.
On the Bulls’ side, Jalen Smith and former Raptor Norm Powell scored 15 points each, with Smith also grabbing eight rebounds. However, Chicago struggled with poor shooting accuracy throughout the game, making only 27 of 85 field-goal attempts and 4 of 36 three-pointers.
Despite speculation about Leonard’s playing time, the Raptors’ head coach indicated that Leonard would be under a minutes restriction to manage his conditioning. The Raptors’ early lead allowed Leonard and the starters to rest in the fourth quarter, with Leonard playing a total of 24 minutes.
A key moment in the game came when the Raptors extended their lead with a 9-0 run at the start of the second quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Bulls. Toronto’s impressive performance was highlighted by scoring 43 points in the first quarter, a feat achieved only five times in the previous season.
Up next, the Raptors will face the Washington Wizards on Friday, aiming to continue their winning streak.
