The Toronto Raptors absolutely steamrolled the Chicago Bulls 135-92 on Wednesday night in both teams’ 2026-27 regular season debuts, and you can thank Kawhi Leonard’s monstrous return for setting the tone. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement game, showing everyone exactly what the Raptors brought back this summer, and the Bulls’ rookie, Caleb Wilson, learned that lesson the hard way.
The Klaw’s Ruthless Welcome Back Party
Kawhi Leonard’s reunion with Toronto, the city he brought an NBA championship to in 2019, could not have been more perfect. Traded back from the Clippers this summer, he showed exactly why he might be the missing piece for a deep playoff run. In just 24 minutes on the floor, Leonard dropped 23 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, and snagged 4 steals to go with a block. The man went 11-for-11 from the free throw line, people! That’s clutch.
The Raptors were on fire from the jump, leading 43-23 after the first quarter. They kept their foot on the gas, going into halftime up 69-44 and closing the third 103-71. Even with a massive lead, Toronto outscored Chicago 32-21 in the final frame. The quartet of Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett were just dominant. Together, they put up 89 points, 20 rebounds, 17 assists, and 6 steals, all while playing an average of only 26 minutes each. Quickley finished with a ridiculous plus-38. This team looks ready to roll.
Caleb Wilson’s Brutal Introduction to the NBA
If Kawhi’s night was a dream, Caleb Wilson’s debut was a nightmare. The No. 4 overall pick got a harsh welcome to the big leagues. Wilson played 32 minutes, tallying 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block. Those steals and the flashes of offensive talent are bright spots, for sure, but the overall picture was rough. He shot just 7-of-21 from the field and a cold 1-of-8 from beyond the arc.
But here’s the kicker: Wilson committed nine turnovers and had zero assists. NINE turnovers! The Raptors outscored the Bulls by a staggering 45 points when he was on the court. That’s a brutal stat line for any player, let alone a highly-touted rookie in his first game. Chicago, as a young and rebuilding team, has a tough road ahead. Head coach Tiago Splitter’s squad shot a dismal 4-of-36 from three-point range (11 percent) and only 32 percent overall from the field. Josh Giddey struggled too, with 5 turnovers and only 2 points on 1-of-10 shooting. Twenty-seven turnovers as a team? You are not winning games like that, period.
The Raptors, sitting pretty at 1-0, will hit the road to visit the Washington Wizards on Friday. Meanwhile, the Bulls desperately need to regroup before they take on the Milwaukee Bucks. The Wizards just knocked off the Bucks 128-116 in their opener, with Anthony Davis dropping 34 points and 12 rebounds. Chicago has a lot to figure out before Friday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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