The Toronto Raptors eased into the 2026-27 campaign by blowing out the Chicago Bulls 132-95. Not sure if it was the Raptors being elite defensively, the Bulls being in game one of a new era, or a combination of both, but Toronto looked amazing tonight.
The Raptors had the Bulls by the horns from the opening tip of this one, putting up 43 points in the first quarter and not really having a moment in this game where they weren’t controlling things.
There was plenty to like if you’re a Raptors fan, but let’s get into my great, good, and meh takeaways from the 20th opening-night win in franchise history.
The great: Immanuel Quickley was who he needed to be
Wow, Immanuel Quickley rocked tonight. IQ finished the game with 23 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals while shooting 6-of-13 from the field and 4-of-9 from deep. Oh, and he finished with a plus-38.
In the first half, the Raptors needed buckets, and he delivered with 14 points in the first quarter alone. Whether it was pulling up off the dribble, being the trailer in transition, or getting to the rack in the open floor, he was the exact type of player Raptors fans want him to be all season. With Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes as the superstar duo for this team, IQ just needs to be a shot maker who plays off the ball and is not afraid to let it fly. He was exactly that in the first half when this Raptors team needed someone to fill it up, with Leonard struggling to get a shot to fall.
Then, in the second half, he changed his tune; after leading the team in points in the first half, IQ shifted his role to being the setup man and getting his teammates involved. Four of his seven assists came in the second half, and his head was on a swivel looking for the open man every time down the floor. Whether it was him kicking it to Jamison Battle in the break or in the corner to bang a three, finding Leonard in motion for a jumper, or hitting his man Scottie B, he was the playmaker they needed.
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.
The good: Scottie Barnes’ aggression didn’t waver
Something I highlighted this preseason as a continued concern of mine with Scottie Barnes was his aggression on offense. At times, it can be really high, and at other times it looks like Barnes forgets he can put pretty much any defender in the basket on a drive. What Barnes did tonight, taking 19 shots, needs to be the theme all season.
Barnes finished the game with 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists while shooting 8-of-19 from the field and 1-of-3 from deep.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to say it: when Barnes is aggressive from the opening tip, the Raptors offense has more success.
Barnes sometimes chooses between being an aggressive playmaker or a scorer, but he’s at his best when he’s doing both, and he did that against the Bulls. This is the type of Barnes the Raptors need for 82 games. The more he hunts his own shot, the more things open up for his teammates, which is only going to create more chances for Barnes to show his elite playmaking. It’s a win-win-win, and hopefully this is the season he fully embraces letting that aggression loose.
The meh: Kawhi Leonard looked like the Klaw, but shots didn’t fall
Now, this isn’t a bad meh by any means for Kawhi Leonard because I was happy with his performance in the opener. Leonard finished the game with 23 points, six rebounds, two assists, and four steals while shooting 5-of-17 from the field and 2-of-6 from deep.
Leonard’s performance was meh in the way Subway is meh when it comes to places to get sandwiches from. It’s not great like Jersey Mike's, but it’s also not in that bad tier where I have to make my own sandwich at home. Subway is right in the middle ground. Sorry, I’m hungry.
If you weren’t following, I'm saying that the bad part of Leonard’s performance tonight was that he wasn’t making shots. But the good part was his assertiveness offensively, the shots he was taking, his demand for the basketball, and how he found a way to put up 20-plus on an off-shooting night. Leonard’s ability to get to the line was on display all game as he went 11-of-11 from the line, and it stood out as an important trait that makes him super impactful offensively even on an off 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 pretty scoring night for the Klaw, he did look like himself, and that’s what matters because if his track record tells us anything, 5-of-17 shooting nights won’t be too common this season.
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