The Toronto Raptors welcomed Kawhi Leonard back to the court Tuesday night as the two-time NBA Finals MVP made his first appearance for the franchise since the 2018-19 championship season.
Leonard scored 21 points in a limited outing against the New York Knicks at Scotiabank Arena, giving Toronto fans their first look at the veteran forward alongside Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl.
Toronto controlled the game early and built a substantial lead before the fourth quarter.
The Raptors led 42-22 after one period and 86-47 at halftime, according to the game tracker.
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Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard makes Toronto return
Leonard’s return was the central storyline before tipoff.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic had confirmed that the 35-year-old would play, while also indicating that his minutes would be managed as he continued rebuilding his game conditioning.
The plan allowed Leonard to share the floor with Toronto’s principal rotation players without treating the exhibition game like a regular-season contest.
Leonard made an immediate impact on both ends of the court.
He recorded five rebounds, added a three-point basket and contributed defensively during Toronto’s dominant opening stretch.
His return marks another significant step in the Raptors’ effort to integrate a player who helped deliver the only championship in franchise history before leaving for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Raptors starters set the tone
Scottie Barnes was one of Toronto’s most efficient players, scoring 17 points on seven-of-eight shooting while adding six rebounds and four assists in limited minutes.
RJ Barrett contributed 15 points, while Ja’Kobe Walter scored 16 points and made three of his five three-point attempts.
Quickley finished with six points and five assists, and Poeltl added four points and five rebounds.
Toronto shot 57.1 per cent from the field and made 11 of 27 attempts from three-point range in the game tracker’s available statistical breakdown.
The Raptors also committed only two turnovers during that stretch.
The ball movement and shooting gave Toronto a comfortable advantage against a Knicks lineup missing several regular starters.
New York rests several regulars
New York entered the game after playing Minnesota the previous night and held out key players including Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart.
The Knicks instead relied heavily on reserve and fringe-roster players, making the exhibition matchup a limited test of how Toronto would perform against New York’s strongest group.
New York’s Mohamed Diawara and Miles McBride each scored eight points in the available box score, while the team struggled from long range and shot 19 per cent from three-point distance.
The circumstances reduced the value of the result as a projection for the regular season, but the game still offered Toronto a useful opportunity to test its preferred starting group with Leonard on the floor.
What comes next for Toronto
The Raptors are scheduled to face the Knicks again Thursday, October 15, at Madison Square Garden.
Toronto will then visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday, October 16, before opening its regular season against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, October 21.
The remaining preseason games should provide more information about Leonard’s workload, his chemistry with Barnes and the balance between Toronto’s established starters and its younger players.
For the Raptors, the most important development from Tuesday was not the exhibition margin.
It was seeing Leonard back in a Toronto uniform and beginning the process of fitting him into a new-look roster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Kawhi Leonard play for the Toronto Raptors against the Knicks?
Yes. Leonard made his first Raptors appearance since the 2018-19 championship season and scored 21 points in a limited preseason outing.
How many points did Kawhi Leonard score?
Leonard scored 21 points and added five rebounds against New York.
Who led the Raptors in scoring?
Kawhi Leonard led Toronto with 21 points, while Scottie Barnes scored 17 and Ja’Kobe Walter added 16.
Why were several Knicks starters absent?
New York was playing on the second night of a back-to-back and rested several regular starters, including Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart.
When do the Raptors play next?
Toronto is scheduled to visit the New York Knicks on Thursday, October 15, 2026, followed by a game against the Detroit Pistons on Friday, October 16.
Fact-Checked: Key game details, player statistics, scheduling information and Leonard’s availability were checked against NBA, arena and team-related primary or official information.
Disclaimer: Preseason results and player minutes are not reliable indicators of regular-season performance.