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The Toronto Raptors opened the 2026-27 NBA season with a dominant 135-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night, as Kawhi Leonard marked his return to Toronto with 23 points. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also scored 23 apiece for a Raptors team that never trailed at Scotiabank Arena.
RJ Barrett added 20 points, while Ja’Kobe Walter contributed 10 as Toronto had five players reach double figures. The Raptors established control immediately, scoring 43 points in the first quarter while holding Chicago to 23. Toronto extended its lead to 69-44 at halftime and outscored the Bulls in all four quarters.
Leonard, who helped Toronto win the 2019 NBA championship before leaving for the Los Angeles Clippers, shot 5-for-17 from the field and 2-for-6 from three-point range. However, he made all 11 of his free throws and recorded four steals, contributing to Toronto’s 15-steal total. He checked out with 8:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Leonard returned to the Raptors in an offseason trade following a salary cap-circumvention scandal that resulted in major sanctions against the Clippers. Serge Ibaka, Leonard’s teammate on Toronto’s 2019 championship team, watched the game from a courtside seat.
Toronto’s defensive pressure proved decisive, with Chicago committing 27 turnovers that led to 35 Raptors points. Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson had a difficult NBA debut, finishing with 16 points on 7-for-21 shooting, including 1-for-8 from beyond the arc, and nine turnovers.
Chicago also struggled from three-point range as a team, making just four of 36 attempts. Norman Powell and Jaylin Smith scored 15 points each, while Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 17. Josh Giddey finished with two points on 1-for-10 shooting, adding six assists and five turnovers.
The Raptors shot 45% from the field and made 10 of 31 three-point attempts, while distributing 31 assists. Quickley contributed seven assists without committing a turnover, and Barnes added six rebounds and five assists.
Toronto will look to carry its opening-night momentum into Friday’s road game against the Washington Wizards. Chicago will try to bounce back when it visits the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
