Kawhi Leonard scores 23 in return as Raptors rout Bulls in season opener
Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points in his first game back with Toronto, which led by as many as 48 points in a 135-92 win over Chicago.
TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points in his first regular-season game back with the Toronto Raptors in a 135-92 rout of the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
Leonard added six rebounds and two assists as Toronto (1-0) led by as many as 48 points in its home opener.
Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also scored 23 points apiece for the Raptors, who never trailed.
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"What it do, baby?" Barnes said to the crowd before the game. "On behalf of the team, we're so excited about your support for the season. Let's get it. Let's go!"
RJ Barrett added 20 points and Ja'Kobe Walter had 10 for Toronto.
Despite his point total, Leonard was inefficient, going 5 for 17 from the field, including 2 for 6 from three-point range. He made all 11 of his free throws.
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 fourth quarter.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic implied before the game that Leonard would be under a minutes restriction as he ramps up his conditioning. Thanks to Toronto's early lead, all of the starters sat for most of the fourth quarter, with Leonard playing 24 minutes.
The Raptors opened the game on a 7-0 run, forcing a Chicago timeout less than 90 seconds in.
They led 43-23 after the first quarter and opened the second on a 9-0 run, capped by a Jakob Poeltl free throw.
Toronto scored almost as many points in the first quarter as the Bulls had in the entire first half, which ended with the Raptors ahead 66-44.
The Bulls committed 27 turnovers, leading to 35 points for Toronto. Chicago rookie Caleb Wilson had nine turnovers in his NBA debut.
Chicago shot 27 for 85 from the field, including 4 for 36 from three-point range.
Jalen Smith and former Raptor Norm Powell scored 15 points each for the Bulls (0-1). Smith also had eight rebounds.
Matas Buzelis scored 17 points for Chicago and Wilson had 16.
Wilson shot 7 for 21 and went 1 for 8 from long distance.
Powell, who went 2 of 6, was the only Chicago player to make more than one three-pointer.
Leonard was traded back to the Raptors in a blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Clippers this past summer.
He was previously acquired from San Antonio before the 2018-19 season and helped Toronto win the NBA championship that year before signing with the Clippers.
Former NBA star Serge Ibaka, Leonard's teammate on the 2019 championship team, watched from a courtside seat.
The Raptors visit the Washington Wizards on Friday.
With files from CityNews, CBC News and Toronto Sun