The Toronto Raptors wasted no time setting the tone in their 135-92 win over the Chicago Bulls at Scotiabank Arena. They led from the opening tip, controlled the game wire to wire and opened their season with a blowout that showed exactly how far ahead they were on this night.
Immanuel Quickley helped get the offense rolling early. He scored 17 points in the first half and finished with 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 4 of 9 from beyond the arc. If Toronto is going to make the leap it wants, Quickley’s efficiency has to keep climbing, and this was a solid step in that direction.
The biggest number from the box score came on the defensive end: 27 forced turnovers. Chicago’s new system and roster turnover played a part, but the Raptors deserve plenty of credit for turning that into a mess for the Bulls. Toronto looked like a team intent on building its identity around defense, and this was the kind of performance that can shape that identity early.
Rookie No. 19 overall pick out of Santa Clara also gave the Raptors something to build on. In 19 minutes, he scored five points and blocked a team-high three shots.
Even at his size, he showed he can protect the rim and hold his own against bigger competition. There’s still plenty of refinement ahead, but it was a promising first look.
Not everything went perfectly, even in a 43-point win. Jamal Shead was the one area where the Raptors could point to real slippage, as he finished with a team-high four turnovers. Toronto only had 10 turnovers as a team, so the ball security was still strong overall, but Shead has done a better job of taking care of it in the past and should clean that up as the season progresses.
Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto was a success in the larger sense because the Raptors rolled, but his own shooting line was uneven. He made just 5 of 17 shots from the field, though he got to the line 11 times and knocked down every free throw. On a night like this, the result mattered more than the efficiency, and Leonard should have plenty of better outings ahead.
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