Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Chicago Bulls 135-92 in their home opener on Wednesday.
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Kawhi Leonard returned to the Raptors for his first regular-season game back with Toronto, helping the team earn a 135-92 win over the Chicago Bulls in Toronto’s home opener on Wednesday.
Leonard finished with 23 points, six rebounds and two assists. He was 5-for-17 from the field, including 2-for-6 from three-point range, and Toronto led by as many as 48 points.
The Raptors improved to 1-0. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also scored 23 points each, with Barnes adding six rebounds and five assists while Quickley had seven assists. Chicago fell to 0-1 as Jalen Smith and former Raptor Norm Powell scored 15 points each, with Smith grabbing eight rebounds.
Chicago struggled early and throughout, going 27-for-85 from the field and 4-for-36 from three-point range. The Bulls made 34 of 47 free throws.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic had indicated before the game that Leonard would be under some kind of minutes restriction as he ramped up conditioning. Toronto’s early lead meant its starters sat for most of the fourth quarter, and Leonard played a total of 24 minutes.
Toronto put the game away after building momentum in the second quarter. Already ahead 43-23 after the first quarter, the Raptors opened the second on a 9-0 run, capped by a Jakob Poeltl free throw, extending the lead and putting the outcome out of reach.
In the first quarter, Toronto scored 43 points, and the Raptors surpassed that total in a single period five times last season.
Toronto next visits the Washington Wizards on Friday.
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