Kawhi Leonard made an impactful return to the Raptors in their season opener against the Chicago Bulls, contributing 23 points in Toronto’s dominant 135-92 victory on Wednesday. Despite his scoring, Leonard encountered some inefficiency, shooting 5 for 17 from the field, including 2 for 6 from beyond the arc. This game marked Leonard’s first regular-season appearance with the Raptors following a significant trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
In addition to Leonard’s performance, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also stood out with 23 points each for Toronto. Barnes showcased his versatility with six rebounds and five assists, while Quickley facilitated the offense with seven assists. On the Bulls’ side, Jalen Smith and former Raptor Norm Powell contributed 15 points apiece, with Smith grabbing eight rebounds.
The Bulls struggled throughout the game, shooting poorly with a 27 for 85 field-goal percentage and a 4 for 36 performance from three-point territory. Even their free-throw shooting was subpar, making only 34 of 47 attempts from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Raptors’ head coach Darko Rajakovic had hinted at limiting Leonard’s minutes to manage his conditioning, but an early lead allowed the starters to rest, with Leonard playing 24 minutes in total.
A pivotal moment in the game came when the Raptors extended their lead to 43-23 after the first quarter and continued with a 9-0 run at the start of the second quarter, ultimately sealing the victory. Notably, Toronto scored 43 points in the first quarter alone, a feat they achieved five times in a single period last season.
Looking ahead, the Raptors will face the Washington Wizards next, while the Bulls are set to play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
