The Toronto Raptors opened the 2026-27 season with a statement, rolling past the Chicago Bulls 132-95 and never really letting the game breathe after the first quarter.
Toronto came out sharp from the jump, pouring in 43 points in the opening frame and controlling the night from there. Whether it was the Raptors’ defense setting the tone or the Bulls adjusting to game one of a new era, the result was the same: Toronto looked excellent.
There was plenty to sort through in a win that decisive, but three takeaways stood out most from the Raptors’ 20th opening-night victory in franchise history.
Immanuel Quickley looked exactly like the version Toronto needs
If there was one player who set the tone offensively, it was Immanuel Quickley. He finished with 23 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, shot 6-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-9 from three, and ended the night at plus-38.
Quickley did the heavy lifting early. He scored 14 points in the first quarter alone, giving Toronto the instant offense it needed while the Bulls were still trying to settle in.
He knocked down pull-ups, pushed in transition, and got to the rim in the open floor. That’s the version of Quickley the Raptors want all season: a shot-maker who can work off the ball and isn’t shy about letting it fly.
Then he flipped the script in the second half. After leading the team in scoring early, Quickley became more of a distributor, with four of his seven assists coming after halftime. He kept his eyes up, kept the ball moving, and repeatedly found the right read - Jamison Battle in transition or in the corner for a three, Leonard on the move for a jumper, or Scottie B in stride.
I myself am guilty of being skeptical of Quickley being this team’s lead guard to open the season. Whether it was his consistency, health, or contract, there were plenty of reasons to doubt him and while it was just one game, what he did on opening night felt like a statement.
Scottie Barnes brought the aggression the Raptors need
One of the preseason concerns was whether Scottie Barnes would stay aggressive enough on offense, and that question got a strong answer against Chicago. Barnes took 19 shots, and that level of intent is exactly what Toronto needs from him.
He finished with 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists while shooting 8-of-19 from the field and 1-of-3 from deep.
Barnes has a way of toggling between scorer and playmaker, but he’s at his best when he doesn’t choose. When he’s attacking early, the defense has to react, and that opens the floor for everybody else.
That, in turn, gives Barnes more room to use his passing gifts. Against the Bulls, he did both jobs.
That’s the formula Toronto needs over the long haul.
Kawhi Leonard looked right, even when the jumper didn’t
Leonard’s line wasn’t pretty from a shooting standpoint, but there was still a lot to like. He scored 23 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished two assists, and picked up four steals, even while going just 5-of-17 from the field and 2-of-6 from deep.
The issue was touch, not intent. Leonard kept demanding the ball, kept attacking, and found a way to get to 20-plus anyway. He also lived at the line, going 11-of-11 there, which made his offensive value obvious even on a rough shooting night.
I kind of assumed it was an overreaction this preseason when I felt concerned about how much Leonard was playing off the ball, and this game verified that it was indeed an overreaction. While it wasn’t a clean scoring night for the Klaw, he looked like himself, and that matters. If his track record means anything, a 5-of-17 night should stay the exception, not the rule.
In Other News...
Serge Ibaka Just Made Kawhi Leonards Raptors Return Feel Bigger
Kawhi Leonards first regular-season game back in a Raptors uniform already carried enough weight on its own, with Toronto welcoming him in after the trade from the Los Angeles Clippers and the contract extension that followed. He made the night feel routine only in the best way, scoring 23 points and going a perfect 11-for-11 at the line as the Raptors handled the Chicago Bulls.
Serge Ibaka being in the building added another layer to the moment, since the former Raptors big man had a clear view of what Leonards return meant beyond the box score. For a team that still remembers exactly what Leonard brought during his previous run in Toronto, the sight of him back on the floor seemed to underline just how much bigger this homecoming could become. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Hand Bulls A Brutal Reality Check To Open The Season
The Bulls were left dealing with a brutal opening-night lesson after Toronto turned their season opener into a runaway loss and exposed problems on both ends of the floor. Chicago finished with more turnovers than assists, and the kind of sloppiness that can be hidden in the preseason quickly became impossible to ignore once the games started counting.
For a team in the middle of a rebuilding process, the long view still matters, and the rotation reflected that approach as young players like Noa Essengue, Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka got a chance to log real minutes. The challenge now is finding out whether those reps can translate into growth quickly enough to keep the Bulls from carrying one discouraging performance into the rest of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Allen Graves Just Gave Raptors Fans More Reason To Revisit Vision 6-9
The Raptors opener turned into the kind of showcase that fits right into the teams long-running obsession with length, switchability and defensive chaos. In a 43-point rout of the Bulls, rookie Allen Graves carved out a promising early look in just 19 minutes, finishing with five points, five rebounds, three blocks and a steal while making his presence felt on the back line.
Graves night gave Toronto another reminder of why its draft strategy keeps circling back to versatile defenders who can cover ground and change possessions without needing the ball. Whether he settles into a regular rotation spot will take time to sort out, but the early signs were encouraging for a team that has spent years trying to turn size and flexibility into a real identity. [Read more 🡒]