Kawhi Leonard Raptors Return Sparks Toronto Blowout

The Kawhi Leonard Raptors return finally happened, and Scotiabank Arena treated it like a playoff game. Leonard scored a game-high twenty-one points in just seventeen minutes as Toronto crushed the New York Knicks in a preseason blowout, according to The Canadian Press.

A first-half show that fans won't forget

It was Leonard's first game in a Raptors uniform since the 2018-19 season, when he led Toronto to its only NBA championship. The crowd gave him the loudest ovation during team introductions and again on every basket. Toronto won one hundred forty-eight to ninety-eight, and Leonard sat out the entire second half.

He opened with two free throws, then hit a contested three-pointer minutes later. By the end of his night he was six for twelve from the field and four for eight from deep, plus five rebounds, per the Canadian Press. Yahoo Sports added that he had two steals and zero turnovers, and that Toronto outscored New York by twenty-eight points while he was on the floor.

The corner shot that broke the internet

One moment lit up social media. Leonard hit a corner triple that bounced once on the rim before dropping through, and the NBA's official account captioned the clip, "Kawhi Leonard from a familiar corner… with a familiar bounce," a nod to his iconic Game Seven buzzer-beater against Philadelphia in 2019, as Yahoo Sports reported.

"Toronto Kawhi is back," one hoops account declared. Fans online were quick to say the Eastern Conference could get messy this season. That is hype, not a forecast, and it is only preseason, but the energy in the building was real.

How the Kawhi Leonard Raptors return came together

The road back was anything but smooth. According to the Canadian Press, the Los Angeles Clippers traded Leonard to Toronto this past summer in a deal that was delayed by an NBA investigation into salary cap circumvention. The league punished the team, its owner Steve Ballmer and several executives severely, while Leonard received a relatively small fine. Once the penalties were handed out, the trade went through.

Toronto sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a pick swap in twenty twenty-seven and two second-round selections to Los Angeles. That is a massive price, which is why every minute Leonard plays matters. The Raptors also confirmed a contract extension for him last month.

What Leonard and the coaches said

Leonard kept it humble. "I'm just here to fit in," he said, adding that he still wants to get in better shape and is learning the play calls and schemes. He also praised his new teammates for making the transition easy.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic said he wanted Leonard to "just have fun" and to build chemistry and spacing with the starters. Because Leonard missed the first two exhibition games, this was the first time Toronto played its full starting lineup all preseason. Scottie Barnes added nineteen points and RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ontario had seventeen.

The supporting cast stole minutes too

Leonard was not the only story. Collin Murray-Boyles went seven for seven from the floor for nineteen points, according to Yahoo Sports, and Barnes was eight for ten. As a team, Toronto shot better than fifty-seven percent and watched a lead balloon to fifty-three points at its peak. Toronto led eighty-six to forty-seven at halftime, per the Canadian Press.

That depth is the real subplot. Toronto is coming off a resurgent forty-six-win season, and adding a two-time Finals MVP to a young core of Barnes, Barrett and company changes the ceiling. The Kawhi Leonard Raptors return is exciting precisely because the team already looked good before he arrived, so every healthy game he gives them is a bonus.

Why the blowout doesn't tell the whole story

Let's keep it real. The Knicks, who are the reigning champions, rested their top players, so Leonard faced backups and depth guys. Leonard has also been frequently injured over his career, and Yahoo Sports noted that Toronto has played it safe with him because of his age and injury history. Rajakovic said his minutes will be limited as he gets integrated.

Still, the early read is encouraging. Toronto visits New York on Thursday and finishes the exhibition schedule Friday in Detroit against the Pistons. The home opener is October twenty-first against the Chicago Bulls, and the building will be loud. If you want more on the team, catch up on our Canada coverage as the season tips off.