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October 14, 2026 at 6:06 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Raptors bury Knicks 148-98 in Leonard's preseason return

Toronto turned its home opener into a 50-point rout of the defending champions, with Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup after missing the first two preseason games.

Toronto Raptors Dominate New York Knicks in Kawhi Leonard's Re-Debut — Yahoo Sports
Toronto Raptors Dominate New York Knicks in Kawhi Leonard's Re-Debut — Yahoo Sports

Kawhi Leonard returned for the Raptors on Tuesday night, and Toronto routed the New York Knicks 148-98 at Scotiabank Arena. The 50-point margin made it one of the more lopsided preseason nights in recent memory. Leonard had missed the first two exhibitions, then went through practice as a full participant. Darko Rajakovic said beforehand that he felt great, though the plan was to keep his minutes down around 15.

It was also the Raptors' home opener, the third game of their preseason and their first in the building since the playoff loss in May. Whatever mood the crowd brought in, the game gave it little reason to sour. Toronto turned a night meant for easing players back into form into something close to a showcase.

The Knicks came in as defending champions, but they were 0-3 in the preseason and are now 0-4. The bench was the weak spot, and the visitors never found a way to slow the game down. Preseason rotations make a result like this hard to read, but a margin this size is not something a coach can brush off.

Toronto arrived having split its first two preseason games, including a 114-106 win over the Clippers in Vancouver. With Leonard starting, Ja'Kobe Walter moved to the second unit, a role he is expected to fill more often once the games count. The league's highlight package is posted for anyone who wants the full flavor of the night.

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