Kawhi Leonard scores 23 points in Toronto return as Raptors rout Bulls
135-92
[October 22, 2026]
By IAN HARRISON
TORONTO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points in his
return to Toronto, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also had 23
apiece and the Raptors routed the Chicago Bulls 135-92 on Wednesday
night in the season opener for both teams.
RJ Barrett added 20 points and Ja’Kobe Walter had 10 for the Raptors,
who never trailed. |
Toronto Raptors' Kawhi Leonard (2) protects the ball from Chicago Bulls'
Buddy Hield (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in
Toronto, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via
AP) |
|
Leonard shot 5 for 17, including 2 of 6 from 3-point range, but
went 11 for 11 at the free-throw line. The two-time NBA
Defensive Player of the Year had four of Toronto’s 15 steals
before checking out with 8:12 remaining in the final quarter.
The Bulls committed 27 turnovers, leading to 35 points for the
Raptors. Chicago rookie Caleb Wilson had nine turnovers in his
NBA debut.
Toronto scored almost as many points in the first quarter (43)
as the Bulls had in the opening half (44).
Matas Buzelis scored 17 points for the Bulls and Wilson had 16.
Norman Powell and Jaylin Smith each added 15.
Wilson shot 7 for 21 and went 1 for 8 from long distance.
The Bulls combined to shoot 4 for 36 from 3-point range. Powell,
who went 2 of 6, was the only Chicago player to make more than
one.
Leonard connected for a 3 on his first shot, then missed his
next eight attempts before hitting a pull-up jumper late in the
second.
Leonard was traded from San Antonio to Toronto before the
2018-19 season. He helped the Raptors win the NBA championship
that season before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Toronto reacquired Leonard in an offseason trade after a salary
cap-circumvention scandal that led to massive sanctions against
the Clippers.
Former NBA star Serge Ibaka, Leonard’s teammate on that 2019
Raptors championship team, watched from a courtside seat
opposite the Toronto bench.
Up next
Bulls: At Milwaukee on Friday.
Raptors: At Washington on Friday.
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