Kawhi Leonard made a strong return to the Toronto Raptors in his first game of the regular season, contributing 23 points as the team dominated the Chicago Bulls with a resounding 135-92 victory on Wednesday. The Raptors, now 1-0, showcased their superiority by leading by a staggering 48 points during their home opener.
Despite his significant point contribution, Leonard’s performance was marred by inefficiency, as he only made 5 of 17 field-goal attempts, including a 2 for 6 record on three-point shots. Leonard’s return to the Raptors came through a notable trade with the Los Angeles Clippers during the summer.
Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also impressed with 23 points each. Barnes displayed versatility by securing six rebounds and providing five assists, while Quickley showcased his playmaking skills with seven assists. Jalen Smith and former Raptor Norm Powell each scored 15 points for Chicago (0-1), with Smith also grabbing eight rebounds.
In terms of key takeaways, the Bulls struggled from the start, facing an overwhelming opponent and suffering from poor shooting accuracy. Their field-goal percentage was notably low at 27 for 85, with a meager 4 for 36 success rate from beyond the arc. Even their free-throw shooting was below par, making only 34 of 47 attempts.
Before the game, Raptors’ head coach Darko Rajakovic hinted at Leonard facing limitations in playing time to manage his conditioning. However, due to the Raptors’ commanding lead, especially with a 29-point advantage in the first half, all starters were rested for a significant portion of the final quarter, with Leonard clocking in 24 minutes of gameplay.
A pivotal moment in the game was when the Raptors extended their lead to 43-23 at the end of the first quarter and further solidified their dominance with a 9-0 run at the start of the second quarter, highlighted by a free throw from center Jakob Poeltl, effectively putting the game out of reach.
A noteworthy statistic was Toronto’s impressive 43-point performance in the first quarter alone, a feat they achieved on five occasions in a single period during the previous season.
Looking ahead, the Raptors are scheduled to face the Washington Wizards on Friday, while Chicago will take on the Milwaukee Bucks on the same day.
