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10/21 21:43 CDT Kawhi Leonard scores 23 points in Toronto return as Raptors
rout Bulls 135-92
Kawhi Leonard scores 23 points in Toronto return as Raptors rout Bulls 135-92
By IAN HARRISON
Associated Press
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.
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. ___ See AP's full NBA coverage here
Up next Bulls: At Milwaukee on Friday. Raptors: At Washington on Friday. ___ See AP's full NBA coverage here
