Toronto announced their arrival for the new campaign with a statement victory on Wednesday night, blowing the doors off the United Center in a 135-92 dismantling of the Chicago Bulls. The scoreline tells only half the story; the true headline was the homecoming of Kawhi Leonard, who dropped 23 points in his first regular-season appearance since being re-acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in a summer blockbuster. While the two-time Finals MVP showed understandable rust on the offensive end, the supporting cast ensured the result was never in doubt, handing head coach Darko Rajakovic the perfect start to his second year at the helm.
A Rusty Return for the King of the North
Leonard’s stat line — 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists in just 24 minutes — looks efficient on paper, but the underlying numbers told a different tale. He laboured to a 5-for-17 clip from the field, missing four of his six attempts from beyond the arc. Rajakovic had been transparent pre-game about a minutes restriction designed to manage the superstar’s conditioning, and the early onslaught allowed the coaching staff to stick rigidly to that plan. Leonard sat for the entirety of the fourth quarter, watching from the bench as the lead ballooned to a staggering 48 points.
It was a surreal sight for the travelling contingent: the man who delivered the franchise its first championship in 2019, wearing the red and black again, shaking off the cobwebs in a glorified scrimmage. “It felt good to be back out there with the guys,” Leonard said afterwards, his trademark stoicism barely cracking. “The rhythm will come. Tonight was about getting the win and getting my legs under me.”
Barnes and Quickley Pick Up the Slack
If Leonard was the headliner, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley were the engine room. Both matched the returning star with 23 points apiece, but their impact radiated far beyond the box score. Barnes, entering his fourth season with a renewed sense of authority, crashed the glass for six boards and orchestrated the offence with five assists. Quickley, meanwhile, continued his seamless integration into the Raptors’ backcourt, dishing out seven assists while spacing the floor with his trademark gravity.
The duo combined for a masterclass in transition offence, repeatedly turning Chicago turnovers into highlight-reel dunks. It was a glimpse of the “positionless basketball” Rajakovic has preached since his arrival — a system where the ball hops faster than the defence can rotate.
Bulls Offer Zero Resistance
For Chicago, the night was a catastrophe from the opening tip. The Bulls shot a woeful 27-for-85 from the field, including a putrid 4-for-36 from three-point range. Even the charity stripe offered no solace; they converted just 34 of 47 free throws. Jalen Smith (15 points, eight rebounds) and former Raptor Norm Powell (15 points) were the only visitors to reach double figures, their efforts mere footnotes in a rout.
The game was effectively decided before the first quarter buzzer sounded. Toronto exploded for 43 points in the opening twelve minutes — a single-quarter total they managed only five times during the entirety of last season. A 9-0 surge to start the second frame, capped by a Jakob Poeltl free throw, pushed the lead to 29 and prompted Bulls coach Billy Donovan to empty his bench earlier than he would have liked.
Bench Mob Extends the Lead
With the starters resting for the final frame, Toronto’s depth took centre stage. The second unit maintained the defensive intensity, forcing shot-clock violations and running the floor with abandon. It was a luxury problem for Rajakovic: a blowout win that preserved his veterans’ legs for a quick turnaround.
The Raptors now turn their attention to a road trip that begins Friday against the Washington Wizards. Chicago, meanwhile, must regroup instantly for a daunting visit to the Milwaukee Bucks on the same night.
Why it Matters
This was more than a season-opening win; it was a proof of concept for a franchise betting on continuity and a bold front-office gamble. Bringing Leonard back was a move designed to shorten the championship window, and while Wednesday showed he is not yet the two-way assassin of 2019, the infrastructure around him — Barnes’s ascension, Quickley’s playmaking, Poeltl’s screening — looks championship-calibre. If Leonard rounds into form by the new year, the East just got significantly more dangerous.