Toronto Raptors 135, Chicago Bulls 92 | October 21, 2026
Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto, and what a way to begin his second chapter with the Raptors.
Seven years after helping deliver the franchise’s first NBA championship, Leonard returned to Scotiabank Arena wearing a Raptors uniform once again. The result? A 135–92 demolition of the Chicago Bulls.
Leonard finished with 23 points, six rebounds, and four steals, while Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also scored 23 apiece. RJ Barrett added another 20 as Toronto overwhelmed Chicago on both ends of the floor.
This wasn’t just a successful homecoming. It was a statement from a Raptors team that looks ready to compete in the Eastern Conference.
First Quarter: Kawhi’s Homecoming Starts With a Bang
Toronto wasted absolutely no time getting its season underway.
Leonard immediately contributed to the offense, assisting on an RJ Barrett layup before knocking down a 26-foot three-pointer off a pass from Immanuel Quickley.
The Raptors jumped ahead 7–0, giving the home crowd plenty to celebrate.
Chicago tried to establish an inside presence through Jalen Smith, who scored on multiple early possessions, including a pair of dunks assisted by Josh Giddey.
But Toronto was operating at a completely different level.
Quickley converted a layup through contact, Collin Murray-Boyles finished a dunk, and Ja’Kobe Walter added a step-back jumper.
Then Toronto’s three-point shooting took over.
Quickley drilled consecutive outside shots, including a 28-footer, while Scottie Barnes and Walter also connected from deep.
With approximately 90 seconds remaining, Quickley buried another three-pointer from 31 feet, extending Toronto’s advantage to 18 points.
The Raptors weren’t just winning. They were running Chicago off the floor.
End of the first quarter: Toronto 43, Chicago 23.
A 20-point lead after just 12 minutes. What a start to the Kawhi Leonard reunion.
Second Quarter: Toronto Builds a 25-Point Halftime Lead
Chicago desperately needed to slow the game down.
Instead, Toronto continued attacking.
Jamison Battle opened the quarter with a putback layup before knocking down a deep three-pointer from 28 feet. Quickley followed with another triple, extending Toronto’s lead to 52–23.
That’s a 29-point advantage less than three minutes into the second quarter.
Chicago finally found some offensive life through Norman Powell, who scored on a pull-up jumper and a long three-pointer before repeatedly getting to the free-throw line.
But the Bulls were relying heavily on foul shots just to stay remotely competitive.
Leonard added a midrange jumper, Barnes scored on a driving layup, and Toronto continued finding easy opportunities.
Late in the quarter, Barnes knocked down a turnaround fadeaway, and Jakob Poeltl finished a cutting layup off an RJ Barrett assist.
The Raptors weren’t shooting particularly well throughout the entire second period, but their defense kept Chicago from mounting any meaningful comeback.
Halftime: Toronto 69, Chicago 44.
The Bulls had scored just 44 points in an entire half. Toronto had scored 43 in the opening quarter alone.
Third Quarter: Raptors Put the Game Completely Out of Reach
Any hope of a Chicago comeback disappeared quickly after halftime.
Barnes opened the third quarter with a fadeaway jumper, and Leonard followed with a smooth 17-foot pull-up shot.
RJ Barrett then converted a running layup off a Barnes assist before adding another turnaround jumper.
Toronto’s offense was moving the basketball beautifully, and Chicago couldn’t keep up.
Leonard continued contributing at the free-throw line, while Barnes mixed in a step-back jumper and Barrett attacked the basket.
Midway through the period, Collin Murray-Boyles knocked down a turnaround bank shot, and Barrett followed with a running dunk.
Chicago managed a few baskets through Tre Jones and Caleb Wilson, but every attempt to build momentum was quickly shut down.
Later in the quarter, Quickley converted a driving layup through contact, and Barnes threw down a dunk off a Ja’Kobe Walter assist.
The Raptors were completely in control.
End of the third quarter: Toronto 103, Chicago 71.
Toronto had extended its lead to 32 points, leaving the fourth quarter as little more than a formality.
Fourth Quarter: Toronto Finishes a Dominant Homecoming
Even with the outcome essentially decided, Toronto continued producing highlights.
Leonard opened the fourth quarter with a running dunk off an RJ Barrett assist, giving the home crowd another moment to celebrate.
Barrett followed with a putback layup, while Leonard continued drawing fouls and converting his opportunities at the line.
Jamison Battle connected from three-point range, and Trayce Jackson-Davis finished a dunk off a Jamal Shead assist.
Then Leonard delivered another memorable shot, drilling a 27-foot running three-pointer midway through the quarter.
Chicago continued battling through Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis, but the deficit was far too large.
The Raptors cruised through the final minutes to complete an emphatic opening-night victory.
Final Score: Toronto Raptors 135, Chicago Bulls 92.
Key Takeaways
1. Kawhi Leonard’s Return Could Change Everything for Toronto
Leonard finished with 23 points, six rebounds, four steals, and a block.
He shot just 5-for-17 from the field, but he made all 11 of his free throws and demonstrated the defensive instincts that have made him one of the best two-way players of his generation.
The four steals were particularly encouraging.
And perhaps the most exciting part for Toronto fans? Leonard didn’t need to dominate offensively for the Raptors to win by 43.
Toronto already has an established young core. Adding a veteran with Leonard’s championship experience gives this team a completely different dimension.
2. Toronto’s Balanced Scoring Was Outstanding
Four Raptors scored at least 20 points:
- Scottie Barnes: 23 points, six rebounds, five assists
- Kawhi Leonard: 23 points, six rebounds, four steals
- Immanuel Quickley: 23 points, seven assists, four three-pointers
- RJ Barrett: 20 points, four rebounds, three assists
Quickley was especially impressive in the opening quarter, helping Toronto establish its enormous early lead.
Barnes contributed as a scorer and facilitator, while Barrett consistently attacked the basket.
Toronto finished with 31 assists, a clear indication of how effectively the team moved the basketball.
3. Chicago’s Offense Was Absolutely Terrible
There’s no way to sugarcoat this performance.
The Bulls shot 27-for-85 from the field (32%) and an astonishing 4-for-36 from three-point range (11%).
Josh Giddey finished with just two points on 1-for-10 shooting.
Matas Buzelis scored 17 points but made only two of his eight field-goal attempts, relying heavily on 13 made free throws.
Caleb Wilson contributed 16 points, while Jalen Smith and Norman Powell added 15 apiece.
Chicago also committed 27 turnovers.
That’s simply not winning basketball.
4. Toronto’s Defense Was Relentless
The Raptors recorded 15 steals, with Leonard contributing four.
Toronto forced 27 turnovers while committing just 11 of its own.
That 16-turnover difference created countless additional scoring opportunities and prevented Chicago from ever establishing an offensive rhythm.
The Bulls actually won the rebounding battle 71–63, including 21 offensive rebounds.
Think about that.
Chicago grabbed more rebounds and still lost by 43 points.
That’s how disastrous its shooting and ball security were.
5. The Raptors Have Serious Eastern Conference Potential
It’s only one game, so there’s no reason to declare Toronto a championship contender just yet.
But this was an extremely encouraging start.
Barnes continues developing into a complete player, Quickley gives Toronto reliable perimeter scoring, Barrett provides another offensive option, and Leonard brings championship experience and elite defensive instincts.
If this group stays healthy and continues playing with this level of defensive intensity, Toronto could become a serious problem in the East.
Final Thoughts
What a night for Toronto basketball.
Kawhi Leonard returned to the franchise he helped lead to its first championship, and the Raptors responded with one of the most dominant performances of opening week.
The 43-point victory wasn’t solely about Leonard. It was about a complete team performance, with four players scoring at least 20 points and a defense that completely overwhelmed Chicago.
For the Bulls, this was a disastrous beginning to the season. Their shooting, turnovers, and inability to handle Toronto’s pressure all need immediate attention.
For the Raptors, the message was clear.
Kawhi is back. Toronto is dangerous. And the rest of the Eastern Conference should be paying attention.
Final Score: Toronto Raptors 135, Chicago Bulls 92.
Leave a Reply